Richard Niekrash Jr. is a CFP® and Series 66 registered advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2011 and previously held positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, investment management consulting, brokerage services, insurance products, and M&A advisory services.

Mary Pucciarelli is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 41 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Reilly Financial Group, Mass Mutual Investors Services, MASSMUTUAL Life Insurance Company, and METLIFE Securities Inc. She also engages in fixed insurance sales as a secondary business activity. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients nationwide. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs and access to third-party asset managers, while acting as a wrap-fee program sponsor and back-office provider.

Kelsey Bornstein Murphy is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has prior experience with Park Avenue Securities and Paychex, and spent over a decade at Optimum Health Exercise Therapy. Murphy serves as president and board member of BNI First Class NJ, a non-investment-related networking group. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations, offering a range of financial planning, consulting, and investment solutions tailored by its network of advisors.

William Blanco is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Red Bank, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has worked with Equity Services since 2009 and previously held positions at National Life Group, Chase Investment Services Corp., and Merrill. Blanco is also involved in health insurance and elder care-related activities, including roles with United Health Care, PGP Benefits, and the Orion Resource Group. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms, often utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios, and services a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary client assets.

Kevin Pent is a financial advisor at Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at National Life Group, Royal Alliance Associates, Signator Investors Inc., Park Avenue Securities, and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, he has served as Past Exalted Ruler for the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks in Keyport, NJ, where he volunteers and advises on organizational procedures, and he provides coaching on special needs funding to assist families with planning. Equity Services, Inc. offers financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers to deliver predominantly long-term investment strategies alongside options for shorter-term trading.

Austin Paglia is a financial advisor with Sanctuary Advisors, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill and Mirae Asset Securities. He has been with Sanctuary Wealth since 2021. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm supports over 400 independent investment adviser representatives who use various investment strategies and platforms, offering discretionary and non-discretionary management and acting as a fiduciary under written agreements.

Alisha Patel is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor at Mariner with one year of industry experience. Her career includes roles at TritonPoint Capital, TritonPoint Wealth, and Sage Group. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party managers. The firm offers customized discretionary portfolios supported by in-house research and a range of strategies spanning equities, fixed income, alternatives, and digital assets, along with integrated tax and accounting services.

Joseph Hymowitz is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank for nine years, as well as PNC Investments and PNC Bank for one year each. 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 certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated model ties financial planning and managed account solutions to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Michael Previti is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Red Bank, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services since 2016 and also operates Integrated Financial Concepts LLC, where he works as an insurance sales agent and provides employee benefit solutions. Previti serves as president of the Egg Harbor Township Soccer Club, overseeing club activities and board meetings. Equity Services, Inc., also known as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms, often using third-party asset managers and model portfolios, and operates both as a broker-dealer and an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Jake Kreppel is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Alphastar Capital Management, JPMorgan Chase Bank, and Equitable Advisors. Kreppel also serves as Vice President and Independent Insurance Sales Agent at Kreppel Tax Advisory Group, specializing in tax planning and insurance sales. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm manages approximately $49.8 billion using discretionary model portfolios and offers comprehensive reporting and client review services through a standardized platform approach.

Paul Branca is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 65, Series 63, and Series 66 designations and 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc., JPMorgan Investment Management Inc., Merrill, and National Professional Planning Group. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a caretaker assisting his disabled daughter. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s approach integrates proprietary and third-party planning methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates, supported by an extensive platform tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative services.

Harrison Maitland Carter is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Red Bank, NJ. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. Prior to joining Equity Services, he has worked at Integrated Financial Concepts and Pfizer, Inc., among other roles. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms and frequently utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and specialized instruments.

Daniel Armas is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Carson Wealth and CWM, LLC, where he has worked since 2021, and previously held roles at Vanderbilt Securities, Gitterman Wealth Management, Triad Advisors, and Voya Financial Partners. He serves as a board member for the Embrace Kids Foundation, participating in philanthropy and fundraising activities. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser operating an enterprise platform with over 650 advisors and approximately $50.6 billion in assets under management. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing an Investment Committee to design and monitor portfolios and providing tailored solutions including custom indexing and alternative investments.

Craig Ballington is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with both Penn Mutual and Hornor, Townsend & Kent since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance brokerage, serving as an agent and managing partner of related insurance ventures. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans through a network of advisers, offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates both advisory and broker-dealer services, providing custody, execution, and brokerage capabilities alongside investment advice.

Ronald Lomangino is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 33 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation as well as Series 63 and 65 licenses. His prior experience includes roles at Commonwealth Financial Network, Everbank, Securities America Advisors, and Cetera Advisors. Lomangino is the owner and managing director of Dynasty Advisors LLC, where he manages day-to-day operations and client relations. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, including large plan sponsors. The firm offers services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education, supporting recommended investments with due diligence on performance, fees, and manager tenure.

Gerald Clericuzio is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has worked with Guardian Life since 2010 and is the chairman and owner of Planning Alliance LLC. He also owns Planning Alliance Consulting, providing consulting services to businesses and estates. He is affiliated with Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, which offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm provides a range of financial planning and consulting services, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to insurance and alternative investment products.

Walter Pereira is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management services primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, offering integrated solutions linked to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm’s approach emphasizes long-term portfolio returns, annual rebalancing, and clients’ savings rates through proprietary and third-party planning methodologies.

Bryan Kuderna is a CFP® professional with 16 years of experience, currently serving at Guardian Life. He is based in Shrewsbury, NJ, and has held roles at Guardian Life since 2010. Outside of his advisory work, he is Chairman of the Board of Directors for Family Health and Wellness at the Community YMCA, authors financial literacy books, writes articles for Broker World, hosts a weekly podcast on finance and self-help topics, and assists medical residents with tax preparation. Guardian Life’s wholly owned 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 blend of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, supported by proprietary and third-party platforms, with tailored client relationships across various financial planning and consulting needs.

Tremaine Bembry is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Hornor Townsend & Kent since 2019. Prior to that, he was associated with MML Investors Services and MassMutual. Bembry also owns and operates a life insurance brokerage serving attorneys under the Attorney Resource Group brand. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans through a network of advisers, offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines advisory and broker-dealer services and employs third-party asset managers in both discretionary and non-discretionary account structures.

Patrick Maly is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. who holds 37 years of industry experience. His career includes long tenures at Metlife Securities Inc. and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of advising, he is involved as an insurance agent with Integrated Financial Concepts LLC. Equity Services, Inc., also known as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a wide range of clients including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios.