James Kane is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 23 years of industry experience. He previously worked at UBS Financial Services from 2009 to 2019 before joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2019. Kane serves on the finance committee of the Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, where he assists with financial and audit reviews. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary services. The firm’s IPS-driven approach incorporates modern portfolio theory and includes a broader set of investment options than typical institutional advisers, such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep programs.

Mark Farber is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He focuses on developing personalized financial strategies tailored to each client’s unique goals and circumstances. Leveraging the investment insights of Merrill and the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America, Mark aims to help clients navigate changing market conditions to manage and grow their wealth. Mark holds a Doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo and maintains the designation of Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). In addition to his professional responsibilities, he is active in his community, dedicating time to volunteer with local organizations.

Maxwell Blitz is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 designations and five years of industry experience. He previously worked at AXA Advisors, LLC, and has a background that includes four years at SUNY Fredonia. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporations, charities, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs, operating as both an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer across a variety of managed program structures.

Sondra Payne is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. She has been with Equitable Advisors since 2008, including the period when the firm operated as AXA Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as executor of her parents' estates and holds membership in a limited liability company, BSP Enterprises, LLC. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model that utilizes external programs and offers both advisory and brokerage/insurance services.

Thomas Carlsen is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 29 years of industry experience. He is currently with OSAIC and has worked at SagePoint Financial, Inc. since 2009. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as President of the Lancaster Football Alumni Booster Club. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations through a large network of affiliated advisers. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services and employs asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to manage portfolios across various investment types.

Ralph Primerano is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 36 years of industry experience, including a long tenure at Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in Medicare supplement sales and operates a financial services business focused on insurance and investments. LPL Enterprise serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, advisory services, and access to model portfolios and third-party asset management. The firm integrates advisory programs with insurance sales and lending services through its affiliated entities.

Salvatore Gandolfo is a financial advisor at Raymond James & Associates with 18 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill for 14 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in Fordham School LLC, which manages a Florida condo rental. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser overseeing roughly $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a broad client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and specialized municipal advisory services.

David Schneeweiss is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. He has worked with Wells Fargo Advisors LLC and Wells Fargo Clearing since 2009. He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Masonic Medical Research Institute, where he reviews investment performance and oversees organizational expenses. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets and offers both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research from the Wells Fargo Investment Institute.

Anita Peterson is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 32 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has worked at Morgan Stanley and its affiliates since 2007. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, including tailored financial planning, and manages approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets.

Julie Burgio is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Merrill for 14 years before joining Wells Fargo Clearing in 2026. Outside of her advisory role, she is a managing member and owner of several rental property LLCs. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm providing investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm uses research and analytics to evaluate investment options and offers a mix of brokerage and advisory solutions.

Mikaela Donovan is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. Prior to entering the financial services field, she has worked in retail and service positions, including roles at LensCrafters and Starbucks. LPL Enterprise, LLC serves a diverse client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional clients through advisory and brokerage channels. The firm offers financial planning, model wealth portfolio programs, third-party asset management arrangements, and access to various brokerage and insurance products.

Thomas Czechowski is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Hamburg, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 23 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2003. Outside of finance, he has written, composed, and recorded music that has appeared in radio, television, and films, occasionally earning royalty income. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a nationwide network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by in-house and third-party research.

Michael Kielbasa is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2004 and previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC. He serves as the executor for his parents' last will and testament. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan support, and asset management services to individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model, working with LPL and multiple third-party asset managers to tailor advisory programs based on client goals and risk tolerance.

Reece Bates is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked at Peak and Peak and has experience in various roles including bartending at a resort and bar. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and institutions, offering financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs. The firm operates as a dual-registered SEC investment adviser and broker-dealer and collaborates extensively with program sponsors and third-party managers to provide advisory and brokerage solutions.

Jason Bird serves as a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he has been since 2019. He brings over 16 years of experience in wealth management, focusing on comprehensive strategies that extend beyond traditional financial asset management. His approach emphasizes aligning clients' wealth with their values to empower clear and confident financial decision-making. Jason's expertise includes services for endowments, foundations, and non-profits, legacy and philanthropic planning, personal retirement planning, socially responsible and ESG investing, small business strategies, and retirement income planning. He holds professional designations such as Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Sports & Entertainment (SE). Jason earned his bachelor's degree from the University at Buffalo, where he also played basketball. In addition to his professional work, Jason contributes to his community through various roles, including serving as President of the Board of Trustees at Park School, and participating on the Investment Committees for the Southern Education Foundation and the University at Buffalo Foundation. He is a member of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership's Diversity & Inclusion Council and the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo's Professional Advisor Council. Outside of work, Jason enjoys basketball, reading, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Jodie Borlaug is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has worked at OSAIC since 2023 and Sagepoint Financial, Inc. for over 10 years. Outside of her advisory role, she offers Medicare supplement, advantage, and prescription drug plans through multiple insurance carriers. OSAIC serves a diverse range of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated advisers, providing brokerage and investment advisory services, financial planning, and access to third-party money managers and wrap programs. The firm employs asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to construct portfolios across various asset types and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary management.

Collin Hawes is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Batavia, NY, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and possessing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2012. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, including model portfolios and retirement plan consulting, with both discretionary and non-discretionary management options.

Sweta Rao is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Tristate Financial Advisors and Age of Pashun, among others. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers financial planning, broker-dealer services, insurance distribution, and access to third-party asset management programs, operating extensively through LPL-sponsored programs and endorsed TAMPs.

Peter Walsh is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2014. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base—including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations—and offers financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and institutional fiduciary services.

Louie Sardo Jr. is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he worked at Axa Advisors and held various roles in outdoor power equipment and landscape services. He serves as board member and secretary of PLANT WNY. Equitable Advisors serves individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, corporations, and charitable organizations by providing financial planning, retirement-plan support, and access to asset management through LPL programs and third-party asset managers. The firm employs a hybrid referral and implementation model, utilizing both advisory and brokerage channels to tailor services based on client goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon.