Cheryl Vallon is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY. She holds Series 63, Series 65, and Series 66 credentials and has 21 years of industry experience. Cheryl has been with HSBC Securities since 2010 and has also worked at HSBC Technology & Services USA since 2015. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm provides both client-directed and discretionary portfolio options, utilizing a structured asset-allocation process supported by affiliated asset management and fund selection teams.

James Fashano is a financial advisor with Guardian Life in Buffalo, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Guardian Life and its affiliate since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he is a 90% owner of Alliance Advisory Group Inc., a non-investment-related business based in Buffalo. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of advisory programs using both proprietary and third-party portfolios.

Elizabeth House is a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors with four years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Protective Industries and Agia. Outside of her advisory role, she is also an agent for non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-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-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Joseph Herrmann is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at MassMutual Life Insurance Company, Gilder Gagnon Howe, and City National Rochdale. He serves as an advisory board member for Seton Hall University's Transformative Leadership Certificate Program. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations, utilizing a mix of client-directed and discretionary investment options supported by strategic and tactical asset-allocation advice developed with HSBC Global Asset Management.

Brian Geary is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He has worked at Hightower Advisors since 2022 and previously spent ten years at Linwood Investment Advisors. Based in Buffalo, NY, he is currently affiliated with Hightower Advisors. Hightower provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, combining proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles to serve its clients.

Nila Khoury is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 13 years of industry experience. She has been with HSBC Securities since 2018 in various capacities and has worked at HSBC Bank USA, N.A. since 2016. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions. The firm employs a multi-profile investment process developed with HSBC Global Asset Management and offers programs including the client-directed Spectrum Program and fully discretionary Spectrum II and Offshore Spectrum programs.

Austin Reese is a financial advisor with Key Investment Services LLC based in Depew, NY. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC, and Citi Group. Key Investment Services LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and corporate clients through wrap-fee advisory programs, model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and affiliated brokerage and insurance products. The firm emphasizes client-directed investment decisions supported by non-binding recommendations and ongoing monitoring, while providing access to third-party discretionary managers and conducting regular due diligence and supervisory oversight.

John Birkby is a CFP® with 43 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network and Clark & Company Wealth Management since 2024. He previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities from 2008 to 2024. Outside of his advisory work, he is co-owner of Swanson & Birkby Associates, LLC, a commercial real estate management entity, and has engaged in fixed insurance sales. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients. The firm offers discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and a comprehensive adviser-support platform.

Nels Nelson Jr. is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Lincoln Financial Securities and MassMutual. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of nearly 2,900 advisors and managing approximately $212.7 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform with discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and comprehensive custody and clearing services.

Lisa Petronio is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 16 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Global Retirement Partners, Strategic Retirement Partners, Kestra Advisory, and Walsh Duffield Companies. She serves on the boards of Goodwill of WNY and Child & Family Services, contributing to their strategic vision and finance committees. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered retirement plan relationships. The firm’s advisory model separates planning services from ongoing portfolio management, offering both model-based and customized investment solutions.

Zachary Koch is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Buffalo, NY. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Prior to Commonwealth, he worked at American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. and M&T Bank among other roles. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing over $210 billion in client assets. The firm offers discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and a variety of investment options while providing back-office support including trading and reporting.

James Krieger is a financial advisor with HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having four years of industry experience. He also serves as a bank officer for HSBC Bank (USA) N.A., an affiliate of his advisory firm, where he engages in the sale of bank-related products. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations through a range of client-directed and discretionary options. The firm’s investment process combines strategic and tactical asset allocation supported by affiliated asset management and fund due diligence providers.

Thomas Anderson is a financial advisor with Key Investment Services LLC and holds a Series 66 credential. He has seven years of industry experience, having previously worked at firms including Ancile Advisors, Raymond James Financial, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance, and Morgan Stanley. Outside of his advisory role, Anderson serves as an alumni board member for St. Francis High School and is involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara/Southern Tier as a young professional board member. Key Investment Services LLC serves individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and corporate clients through various advisory programs, model portfolios, separately managed accounts, and brokerage and insurance products. The firm emphasizes client direction in model selection, provides non-binding recommendations, and conducts ongoing monitoring and due diligence of third-party advisory products.

Paul Di Nicolantonio is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors. His prior roles include positions at Dopkins Wealth Management, Snowden Lane Partners, and M&T Bank. He has also been involved with organizations such as Canisius College and the Lockport Family YMCA. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, pension plans, and charitable organizations. The firm uses a manager selection and multi-manager approach, offering access to affiliated and third-party managers, discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, and a range of investment vehicles and strategies.

Emily Willis is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Prior to her advisory career, she worked for seven years at Giuseppe's Pizzeria and Restaurant. Park Avenue Securities LLC is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of investment advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary models from in-house and third-party managers.

Thomas Digiacomo is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Amherst, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services, Inc. and National Life of Vermont since 1993. Outside of his advisory work, he is active in youth sports as a youth ice hockey head coach and manager and performs professionally as a guitarist. Equity Services, Inc., doing business as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms that combine predominantly long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and works with a network of investment adviser representatives and third-party asset managers.

Stacie Diesfeld is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors and holds a Series 66 designation. She has one year of industry experience and has worked at firms including Cetera and Crane Capital Group. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a cardiovascular sonographer at Trinity Medical Cardiology, performing ultrasounds of the heart and other vasculature. 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 for portfolio construction.

Michael Muffoletto is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network. His prior roles include positions at Lincoln Financial Securities and MML Investors Services. He is also involved in referring payroll services through ADP, Inc. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing roughly $213 billion in client assets. The firm offers a comprehensive adviser-support platform with discretionary and nondiscretionary managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and a variety of investment options.

Peter Bushman is a financial advisor at Key Investment Services LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at notable firms including HSBC Securities and M&T Securities. Bushman is currently based in Williamsville, NY. Key Investment Services LLC provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, trusts, estates, small businesses, and corporate clients through wrap-fee programs, model portfolios, and separately managed accounts. The firm emphasizes client-directed investment decisions supported by ongoing monitoring and due diligence, and operates within the KeyCorp group with connections to KeyBank and KeyBanc Capital Markets.

James Cosgriff IV is a CFP® professional with seven years of experience in the financial services industry, currently serving at Independent Financial Partners. His prior roles include positions at Securities America Advisors and Dopkins Wealth Management. He owns Cosgriff Wealth Management, LLC, which provides investment and financial planning services to individuals and trusts, and also operates JHC Tax Services, offering tax preparation exclusively for his wealth management clients. Independent Financial Partners offers investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisers. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform and is notable for its formal retirement-plan advisory and pension consulting capabilities, including compliance with Department of Labor rollover guidance.