Caryn Smith is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. She previously worked at Mercer Global Advisors Inc., Rowland Carmichael Advisors Inc., and Northern Trust Company. Outside of financial advising, she was involved with Red Rock Recreation LLC for seven years. Sovereign Financial Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm emphasizes long-term investment strategies using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, while also incorporating tactical reallocations and alternative investments through independent managers and proprietary funds.

Jonathan Vest is a financial advisor at Watts Gwilliam & Company, LLC with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been self-employed since 2005. Outside of his advisory work, Vest maintains an active residential real estate license but does not actively pursue real estate sales. Watts Gwilliam & Company is a team-based registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm focuses on strategic asset allocation with a long-term horizon while using tactical strategies such as option overlays and collars when appropriate, and offers a range of services including discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and access to private placement funds.

Joshua Robinson is a CFP® professional at West Ridge Advisors with four years of industry experience. Prior to joining West Ridge Advisors in 2021, he worked at Ace Workforce Technologies and Findlay Middle School. West Ridge Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan sponsors, providing financial planning, investment consultation, and portfolio management. The firm employs a team of 11 advisors and manages approximately $396 million in client assets, focusing on Modern Portfolio Theory with global diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost investment vehicles.

Kevin Shorts is a financial advisor at Tribeca Financial, LLC in Gilbert, AZ, holding a Series 65 license with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Tribeca Financial since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, Shorts is an independent insurance agent and manages Shorts Financial Services, LLC. Tribeca Financial provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, and charitable entities. The firm uses a structured, market-rate oriented approach focused on passive, globally diversified portfolios aimed at long-term growth.

Brian Riordan is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with L. Roy Papp & Associates, LLP since 2004, where he serves as part of a multi-advisor team. The firm provides customized investment management and advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, pension plans, foundations, and corporations. L. Roy Papp & Associates follows a fundamentally driven, growth-oriented investment strategy focused on domestic equities, fixed income, ETFs, and mutual funds, managing approximately $1.5 billion in client assets.

Edward Maruna is a financial advisor with Blakely Walters Wealth Management in Scottsdale, AZ. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience, including prior roles at LPL Financial and Next Financial Group. Maruna also serves in the United States Air Force Reserve. Blakely Walters Wealth Management provides wealth management services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm combines discretionary asset management with financial planning, utilizing fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and employs sub-advisors and alternative strategies to tailor investment programs.

Scott Sollars is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Benefit Financial Services Group and previously worked at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. among other firms. Sollars holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Phoenix, AZ. Benefit Financial Services Group serves individuals, trusts, family entities, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans through wealth management and institutional services. The firm manages over $1.5 billion in discretionary assets and consults on approximately $18 billion in retirement plan assets, employing diversified, model-based investment strategies that include mutual funds, ETFs, private investments, and ESG approaches.

Julie Hein is a Series 65-licensed advisor with 21 years of industry experience. She has been with L. Roy Papp & Associates, LLP since 1990. L. Roy Papp & Associates, LLP provides customized investment management and advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, pension plans, foundations, corporations, and other entities. The firm employs a fundamentally driven, growth-oriented investment approach focused on domestic equities, investment-grade fixed income, ETFs, and mutual funds, managing approximately $1.5 billion in client assets through a multi-advisor team structure.

Rydan Case is a CFP®, ChFC®, and Series 66-registered advisor with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Ironwood Wealth Management, LLC since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he directs an event planning club and serves on the Past Presidents' Council of EO Orange County, a nonprofit focused on small business growth and education. Ironwood Wealth Management serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charities. The firm offers tiered service programs with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and written financial planning, emphasizing client-specific asset allocation, periodic rebalancing, and cost-conscious share-class selection.

Lindsey Tummond is a financial advisor at MDRN Capital with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Bancwest Investment Services, Cole Capital Corporation, and AmeriFirst. Lindsey also serves as an Investment Advisor Representative with McAdam, LLC, where she provides financial planning and investment advisory services. MDRN Capital serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans by offering discretionary investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm employs a multi-advisor team model and typically constructs portfolios using unaffiliated independent managers along with low-cost mutual funds and ETFs.

Timothy Travis is a financial advisor with T&T Capital Management in Gilbert, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with T&T Capital Management since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Travis contributes investment research articles to SeekingAlpha.com on a periodic basis. T&T Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management mainly to individual and high-net-worth clients as well as corporate accounts, focusing on portfolio construction and ongoing supervision rather than comprehensive financial planning. The firm employs a long-term, deep-value investment approach supplemented by tactical actions, including the use of margin, options, and short positions, with continuous account monitoring to align with client objectives and risk tolerance.

Brent Miller is a CFA® charterholder with eight years of industry experience. He currently works at Benefit Financial Services Group and has previously been with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and Gradient Analytics. Benefit Financial Services Group advises individuals, trusts, family entities, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans through its wealth management and institutional services divisions. The firm employs a diversified, model-based investment approach that incorporates fundamental, quantitative, qualitative, and technical analysis, managing over $1.5 billion in discretionary assets and consulting on approximately $18 billion in retirement plan assets.

Jeffrey Gilbert is a financial advisor with Balboa Wealth Partners, Inc. in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at several firms, including Chalice Capital Partners, LLC, Niagara International Capital Limited, and Arete Wealth Advisors LLC before joining Balboa Wealth Partners in 2015. Balboa Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs a team structure and a long-term, diversified investment approach using low-cost mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and options, with a focus on periodic account reviews and tax-sensitive decision-making.

Adam Casto is a financial advisor at Safeguard Investment Advisory Group, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Vanguard and Charles Schwab. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group offers discretionary portfolio management, access to third-party sub-advisers, and fee-based financial planning for individuals, high-net-worth clients, and select institutional accounts. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and multi-year investment horizons, managing approximately $702 million in assets through a team of nine advisors across six offices.

Christopher Rich is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving at Tribeca Financial, LLC since 2008. He has also owned Rich Financial Group, LLC since 1992, where he is involved in insurance services. Outside of his advisory role, he is engaged in business exit planning and owns a fly fishing retail store. Tribeca Financial, LLC provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, and charitable entities. The firm employs a structured, market-rate oriented approach focusing on passive, globally diversified portfolios with an emphasis on long-term growth.

Jill Baumes is a financial advisor with Seros Wealth Partners in Gilbert, AZ, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 16 years of industry experience. She has been associated with Seros Financial LLC since 2013 and is also an owner of Opulence Fund, LLC and Lala's Bay LLC, a real estate sales and property management business. Seros Wealth Partners provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, managing discretionary portfolios for approximately 441 clients with about $359 million in assets under management. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis alongside proprietary core models and tactical overlays to tailor portfolios to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Carey Mccrady is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience and is currently an advisor at Cypress Wealth Services, LLC. Prior to joining Cypress in 2023, Carey worked at Watts Gwilliam and Associates and CSM Financial Planning, LLC. Cypress Wealth Services manages approximately $1.34 billion in discretionary assets for around 825 clients, offering customized investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm serves high net worth individuals, families, trusts, estates, and businesses, employing a primarily fundamental research approach with flexibility for alternative investments and more active strategies when suitable.

Ashlee Merkley is a financial advisor at Seros Wealth Partners with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Seros Financial since 2019. Prior to her career in finance, she worked in the retail and service industries. Merkley is also an independent insurance agent. Seros Wealth Partners offers investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis, utilizing proprietary core models with tactical overlays to tailor portfolios according to clients’ objectives and risk tolerances.

Brandon Yee is a financial advisor with Versant Capital Management, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Versant Capital Management since 2015. Versant Capital Management serves high-net-worth individuals, families, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, providing portfolio management, wealth planning, and family office services. The firm emphasizes client-specific investment policies and employs diversified portfolios including equities, fixed income, mutual funds, ETFs, alternative vehicles, and third-party managers tailored to client objectives and liquidity needs.

Laurie Simons is a CFP® professional with 32 years of experience in the financial industry. She is currently with Strategic Income Group LLC, where she has worked since 2019. Her prior experience includes roles at LPL Financial, FOUNDATIONS Investment Advisors, SII Investments, USAA Financial Planning Services, and Robert Baird & Co. Strategic Income Group LLC provides discretionary portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, retirement-plan consulting, and estate and tax strategy services to individuals, high-net-worth households, business owners, executives, and fiduciaries. The firm is noted for its integrated, tax-aware, and income-oriented investment approach, as well as its management of private funds and use of a proprietary financial planning program coordinated with portfolio management.