Christopher Root is a financial advisor with PlanMember Securities Corporation based in Brighton, MI. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has experience in retirement planning through roles at Williams & Co and Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. Prior to his advisory roles, he worked in education for over two decades at Montrose Community Schools and Birch Run Area Schools. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, offering a range of risk-based mutual fund portfolios and comprehensive education and support services. The firm acts as a fiduciary under ERISA Section 3(38) for many plans and employs a strategic asset allocation framework supported by economic analysis and periodic portfolio rebalancing.

George Herr is a CFP® professional with two years of experience at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. Prior to joining Mercer, he worked at Ford Motor for 30 years. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and related planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and other nonprofit organizations. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing multi-factor tilts, low-cost index vehicles, and tax management strategies.

Genevra Mitrovich is a financial advisor at Key Investment Services LLC with one year of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 credential and has previously worked at Equitable Advisors and as an independent contractor. Outside of advising, she is a group fitness instructor at Powerhouse Gym and operates Mitrovich Consulting LLC as a consultant and trainer. 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 investment decisions supported by non-binding recommendations and oversees third-party advisory products through ongoing due diligence and supervisory review.

Gregory Downey is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with 25 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior work includes roles at Raymond James & Associates and South Lyon Schools. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a wide range of services and utilizes multiple program structures, combining in-house manager selection with third-party strategies and technology tools to support advisors and clients.

Paul Downs is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Novi, Michigan, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors and Auto Club Funds, Inc. since 2004 and has also worked as an agent with Agia since 2022. Additionally, he is a commissioned notary public in Michigan, notarizing documents as needed in the course of his financial advisory duties. 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 to construct client portfolios with options for tax and ESG overlay services.

Marie Smith is a CFP® professional with one year of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Mariner. Her background includes multiple roles at Mariner as well as positions at Michigan State University and Kellogg Company. Mariner provides investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm combines in-house research with third-party managers and offers specialized services such as coordinated tax compliance and Core Family Office solutions.

Gary Niemczak is a financial advisor with Lincoln Investment, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 34 years of industry experience. He has worked at Lincoln Investment since 2010 and has a long history in the financial services sector, including roles at Great American Advisors, Jefferson Pilot Securities Corporation, and as a self-employed advisor. Additionally, he acts as an insurance agent providing fixed annuities and life insurance through Consolidated Financial Corp. Lincoln Investment serves individuals, charitable organizations, businesses, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, with a particular focus on educators and 403(b)/457(b) participants. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services, using both strategic and tactical investment approaches across discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Keith Rybak is a financial advisor with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC and holds the PFS™ designation and Series 65 license. He has 15 years of industry experience, including roles at Wasserman Wealth Management, LLC and The Colony Group, LLC. Rybak has also operated Wasserman & Rybak, PLLC since 2008. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach within an enhanced open architecture framework that blends active and passive strategies alongside private and registered funds.

Kristiana Shipway is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. She has been with Stratos Wealth Partners and affiliated LPL Financial since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in selling and servicing fixed insurance products through an outside general agent. Stratos Wealth Partners provides advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers a Strategic Wealth Management platform that supports both advisor-managed and model-based portfolios through an open-architecture approach.

Michael Snider is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He previously worked at Edward Jones from 2015 to 2017 before joining Mercer. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments with investment advisory, financial, tax, retirement, estate planning, and family office services. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds.

George Thibault is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 15 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at PNC Investments, E*TRADE Capital Management, and CCO Investment Services Corp. Fifth Third Securities provides brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm combines discretionary managed-account programs with features such as direct indexing and a tax-overlay service, supported by its affiliation with Fifth Third Bank.

Marcus Smith is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently advising at Empower Advisory Group. His prior experience includes roles at Advised Assets Group, LLC, Infinity Wealth Management, Inc., and Edward Jones. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and select retail brokerage account holders. The firm emphasizes integrated services tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Sarah Bumstead is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with eight years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Cerity Partners since 2019, following three years at Blue Prairie Group, LLC. Cerity Partners provides customized wealth management services to a broad national client base, including individuals, families, trusts, estates, business entities, and institutional investors. The firm employs tailored asset allocation, manager selection, and periodic rebalancing, utilizing proprietary quantitative screens alongside third-party managers and individual securities.

Jarred Height Kaplan is an advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been in the industry since 2023. Prior to joining Fifth Third Securities in 2026, he worked at Jets Pizza for seven years and is involved in entrepreneurial ventures including HK Vending Co LLC and Hk Properties and Management LLC. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions, offering investment advisory and brokerage services through multiple program types on the Passageway platform. The firm operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank and manages approximately $10.9 billion in assets.

Douglas Krug is a financial advisor at Private Advisor Group, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Mariner Independent Advisor Network, LLC, LPL Financial, LLC, and Reliable Securities Inc. Outside of advising, he is licensed as a real estate agent, working in mortgage and real estate services. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, business entities, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm provides access to third-party asset managers and turnkey asset management platforms, delivering advisory solutions through a network of investment adviser representatives.

Ian Waldo is a financial advisor with NewEdge Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. He has worked with Raymond James and its affiliates from 2007 to 2018, and currently operates Waldo Wealth Partners LLC, a financial advisory business. Waldo is based in Northville, MI. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent representatives. The firm offers a broad range of portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, utilizing centralized due diligence and technology to support advisor and client needs.

Richard Rush is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses. Prior to joining NewEdge in 2022, he worked at Private Client Services LLC, Executive Wealth Management, and Invest Financial Corp. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as an adjunct professor at Wayne State University. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser that serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a broad range of services including portfolio management, financial planning, retirement consulting, and access to sponsored advisory programs, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party investment strategies supported by technology and centralized due diligence.

Nathan Beaudrie is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Fifth Third Securities since 2020, Fifth Third Bank since 2019, and Advantage One Credit Union from 2015 to 2018. Fifth Third Securities serves a diverse range of individual and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types on the Passageway Managed Account platform, including advisor-directed mutual fund and ETF models, separately managed accounts, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Maggie Guenter is a financial advisor at Osaic Advisory Services, LLC with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with firms including Arbor Point Advisors and Securities America. Outside of her advisory work, she has been involved with several businesses such as Jolyn and Melalueca for multiple years. Osaic Advisory Services, LLC provides investment management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory programs with custody and execution primarily through Schwab and Fidelity, utilizing both proprietary and third-party platforms for portfolio management.

Jeffrey Bittner is a CFP® with 22 years of industry experience, currently advising clients at Mariner since 2019. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Advisors from 2016 to 2019. Mariner serves a diverse range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and private funds. The firm offers investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and coordinated tax and family office services, with customized portfolios overseen by an internal committee and a broad range of investment strategies.