Thakoor Balkaran is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and over 32 years of industry experience. He has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2014 and also operates Balkaran & Associates. Additionally, he is an independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management services through a large network of investment adviser representatives, utilizing both affiliated and unaffiliated investment products with a focus on client-centered investment policy statements and model allocations.

Lissette Almanzar is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with seven years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Hightower Securities LLC since 2017. Outside of her advisory role, she volunteers as a financial coach with Women's Money Matters and maintains a fitness and lifestyle content page on TikTok. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a range of individual and institutional clients, employing a multi-manager investment approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Patrick Mc Donald is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Kestra Advisory since 2017 and previously worked at National Planning Corporation for 14 years. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an officer on the board of ESM Community for the Arts and owns a tax, accounting, and estate planning business. Kestra Advisory provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting services to a diverse client base, including plan sponsors and institutional investors. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients with approximately $79.8 billion in assets under management.

Nicole Ilustre is a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with three years of industry experience. She holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at The Colony Group and Thrivent Financial. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial planning, and investment advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Rosario Lenzo III is a CFP® and ChFC® with 39 years of industry experience. He is affiliated with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC and has been associated with both Hornor, Townsend & Kent and Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company since 2012. Lenzo is involved in insurance sales and investment advisory through his roles related to Empire Wealth Strategies and Lenzo Wealth Management. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans by offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates both as an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer, managing a multi-billion-dollar asset base through a combination of third-party asset managers and tailored client strategies.

Frank Booth Jr. is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He has been with VOYA Financial Advisors since 2015 and previously worked at Valic Financial Advisors from 2009 to 2015. Outside of financial advising, he is also a licensed independent insurance agent and works as a real estate salesperson. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, portfolio management, retirement-plan advisory services, and access to third-party money managers for individuals, pension plans, nonprofits, and corporate clients. The firm utilizes investment policy statements, model portfolios, and technology-enabled tools to deliver both discretionary and non-discretionary management across a broad range of investment products.

Jeffrey Lang is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets in Dix Hills, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2007. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs and combines large institutional scale with unique market roles such as operating as a swap dealer and futures commission merchant.

Dennis Martin is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc. in Hauppauge, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 26 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Securities Inc. In addition to advisory work, he is active as a life and health insurance agent and occasionally sells fixed annuities. GWN Securities is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and business clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers discretionary managed accounts, financial planning, and access to third-party sub-advisers through a range of managed-account programs and model portfolios, with a notable history of market-timing and momentum-based strategies.

Kevin Conroy is a financial advisor with GWN Securities Inc. and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has 30 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Conroy is also an independent insurance agent specializing in MetLife Auto and Home property and casualty personal lines. GWN Securities provides investment advisory and related services to individual and corporate clients through various managed account programs, financial planning, and third-party manager selection. The firm employs a combination of discretionary portfolio management and model-based allocations, incorporating both affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers, and utilizes market-timing and momentum-based strategies in select legacy programs.

Donald Lippencott is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) and holds a Series 63 designation. He has 42 years of industry experience with a career including roles at New York Life Insurance Company and NYLife Securities Inc. He is also the owner of Westwind Farm And Stables LLC, a horse farm and equestrian center. Lippencott serves on the boards of Mather Hospital and Theater Three, a local community theater, and is a director of the Robert Keleher Family Foundation, which provides educational scholarships. Eagle Strategies serves a broad range of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives and plan sponsor criteria, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Monte Sperling is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 63 designation. He has 33 years of industry experience and has spent a significant portion of his career at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with MONTNOR ASSOCIATES LLC, a business focused on accounting. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a mix of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, along with access to insurance products and alternative investments through its connection with Guardian Life.

Stephen Valenti is a financial advisor at Integrity Alliance, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has prior experience working at Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC and Futterman, Lanza & Pasculli, LLP. Valenti is also an associate attorney at Mark S. Eghrari & Associates, PLLC, an estate planning law firm. Integrity Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of 164 independent advisers. The firm offers asset management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party manager programs using a variety of portfolio management approaches and custodial platforms.

Robert Schrier is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Melville, NY, holding the ChFC®, Series 63, and Series 65 designations and bringing 40 years of industry experience. He has been with Guardian Life and its related entities since 1993. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and offers a range of financial planning and consulting services tailored to client needs.

Carl Friedrich is a financial advisor at Farther with the designations CFP® and CFA®, and holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has five years of industry experience and has previously worked at Excelsior Investment Advisors, Fcci Consulting, and FCE Group. Farther provides discretionary investment management and advisory services primarily to individual investors, trusts, and estates through both digital platforms and in-person meetings. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach using proprietary model portfolios and algorithmic rebalancing, with investments in ETFs, mutual funds, equities, fixed income, and independent managers, supplemented by AI tools under internal review.

Muhammad Shahzad is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Citigroup since 2017, following four years at Peoples United Bank. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across multiple wealth segments, offering a broad range of investment advisory programs and broker-dealer execution and custody services. The firm implements multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs, supported by internal standards and oversight committees.

Coletta Alagia is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with a Series 66 license and entry-level industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance Company, JT Urraro, and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of finance, she has experience with Miss Colleens Elite Dancentre. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management and a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, businesses, and organizations. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and provides a range of financial planning, consulting, and education services tailored to client needs.

Herbert Oster is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Melville, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 42 years of industry experience. He has been with Guardian Life and its affiliated companies since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he has a minority interest in thoroughbred horse ownership through Herbert J Oster, LLC. Guardian Life's subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, with tailored client relationships and access to proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

Karl Nelson is a financial advisor with VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has worked at VOYA since 2014 and has a long tenure with Union Central dating back to 1987. Outside of his advisory role, Nelson delivers occasional paid motivational speaking engagements and serves on the finance committee of Zion Lutheran Church. VOYA Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial that serves individuals—including high-net-worth clients—as well as pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services utilizing both affiliated and unaffiliated products, with an investment approach that incorporates model portfolios, in-house and external strategists, and technology-enabled tools.

Brandon Zisa is a financial advisor at Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Rho, Pruco Securities, and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Outside of finance, he is co-owner of 732 Productions, a video production company focused on documentaries, and serves as a board member on the Pine Beach Land Use Board. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale firm offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement advisory services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a combination of in-house and third-party strategies, with a focus on client-approved, non-discretionary asset management supported by technology-enabled tools.

Thomas Palmeri is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with 40 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Guardian Life since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he volunteers as a kitchen manager at The INN @ St Francis soup kitchen in Patchogue, NY, and serves as president-elect of the Patchogue Rotary Club, where he also previously held the positions of sergeant of arms and secretary. He is the treasurer on the NAIFA New York State Executive Committee and Board. Guardian Life, through its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers financial planning, discretionary and model-based portfolio management, and a variety of proprietary and third-party advisory solutions, with access to insurance products and alternative investments.