John Mersek is a financial advisor at Essential Investing with 11 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has been with Essential Wealth Management, LLC since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an investment committee member for both the DEK Foundation, a charitable organization, and the Knauss Family LLC, a closely held family entity. Essential Investing provides integrated financial planning and portfolio management to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as not-for-profit and family entities. The firm employs a predominantly passive, focused-indexing investment approach supplemented by tactical opportunities and fundamental analysis, emphasizing diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost investments.

Charles Walling is a financial advisor with RBG Capital LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. His work history includes roles at Morgan Stanley and Triad Advisors, Inc., and he has been with RBG Capital since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, he is a member of WC Pets LLC. RBG Capital provides asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and merger-and-acquisition support to individuals, high-net-worth clients, small businesses, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs fundamental and technical analysis and modern portfolio theory across various strategies and offers retirement plan consulting as a 3(21) fiduciary, third-party manager selection, and M&A advisory services.

Dustin Lester is a financial advisor at Rothschild Financial Partners, LLC with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at LPL Financial LLC and SagePoint Financial. He is also the owner of Post Scarcity LLC, a non-investment-related business. Rothschild Financial Partners, LLC is an independent investment advisory and financial planning firm serving a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities. The firm employs tailored asset-allocation models and uses a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, individual securities, and third-party sub-advisers to implement investment strategies.

Jayson Moss is a CFA charterholder with over four years of industry experience, currently serving at Evolve Wealth Advisors LP. His prior roles include positions at Franklin Templeton and Adelaide Capital. Outside of advising, he provides corporate consulting on investor relations and capital markets and serves on the board of an agricultural services company in Alberta, Canada. Evolve Wealth Advisors offers portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm supports both direct clients and other registered advisers with services such as cross-border planning and employs a disciplined investment approach that includes fundamental analysis, modern portfolio theory, and quantitative methods.

Robert Armour is a financial advisor at Zeches Wealth Management with 23 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Zeches Wealth Management Group since 2015. Zeches Wealth Management is a state-registered advisory team serving individual and high-net-worth clients with asset management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm combines fundamental, technical, and charting analysis to tailor portfolios and offers integrated tax planning through its affiliation with a certified public accounting practice.

Daniela Jones is a CFP® and CFA® with 13 years of industry experience. She has worked at Intrinsic Wealth Counsel, Inc. since 2018 and previously spent 12 years at Barnes Investment Advisory, Inc. Intrinsic Wealth Counsel provides integrated financial planning and portfolio management to individuals, trusts, estates, and other entities. The firm follows a value-oriented, diversified, and tax-aware investment approach tailored to clients’ life plans, primarily using mutual funds, ETFs, and select individual securities.

About Trent White, CFP®, JD, LLM A little background on my journey to becoming a financial advisor. From a young age, I developed a profound interest in managing finances. I started investing in stocks when I was 12 years old using the modest income I earned from delivering newspapers. After I delivered those papers I often read the business, sports, and humor sections, which fueled my growing curiosity about investing. My father and grandfather played instrumental roles in expanding my knowledge of stocks, bonds, ETFs, options, and more. My late mother also played a pivotal role, instilling in me invaluable money skills and principles like saving for college and embracing charitable giving. Even before I could drive, she inspired me to launch my first business—lawn aeration! This fueled my entrepreneurial spirit and taught me the value of the dollar. I've always been fascinated by the power of compounding growth and how money can do good in the world. It's not just about making life more enjoyable by saving for fantastic trips (I love to travel!), but about using money as a force for positive change. That's why, while studying Financial Economics in college, I made up my mind to become a financial planner and help others manage their money wisely. During and after my formal education, I seized valuable opportunities to expand my knowledge and expertise. I actively sought out practical experiences, both as a volunteer and as a paid income tax preparer. Additionally, I delved into life insurance, initially as a captive agent and later as an independent one. These experiences provided valuable insights into different aspects of financial planning.. Eager to broaden my knowledge further, I pursued a law degree at BYU, passed the bar exam, and obtained esteemed credentials such as the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP) designation and other securities licenses. I later completed a post-law degree from Georgetown, a Tax LL.M. (Master of Laws in Taxation) with a Certificate in Estate Planning. For more than a decade now, I've been working with high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, helping them navigate investments and plan for their financial future. Most recently, I managed a book exceeding $1 billion in assets under management for approximately 150 ultra-high-net-worth households that were part of Vanguard’s Personal Advisor Services. Guided by a wealth of experience and knowledge, I am eager to utilize my skills to help you achieve your goals!

Geoffrey White is a CFP® and ChFC® with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Capital Strategies Group, LLC since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he is a licensed insurance agent involved in life and health insurance products. Capital Strategies Group serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as small businesses, charities, trusts, and estates, offering discretionary asset management and financial planning tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerance. The firm employs fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its investment approach and provides both managed accounts with discretionary trading authority and consultative services for held-away assets.

William Mullenmeister is a financial advisor with Pogson & Matt Wealth Management Group in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Pogson & Matt Wealth Management Group since 2010. Pogson & Matt Wealth Management Group provides fee-only investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a tactical asset allocation strategy focused on managing downside risk and pursuing performance, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and tailored portfolio monitoring.

Alec Blomquist is a financial advisor at Rovin Capital with a Series 65 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at Rovin Capital since 2020 and previously at CW Advisors, LLC. Rovin Capital provides personalized financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals and institutions, employing a customized, fundamental-analysis approach with ongoing account monitoring. The firm manages approximately $917 million in assets and acts as manager, sponsor, and adviser to multiple private pooled vehicles and real-estate-related offerings.

Caryn Smith is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Sovereign Financial Group, Inc. She previously worked at Mercer Global Advisors Inc., Rowland Carmichael Advisors Inc., and Northern Trust Company. Outside of financial advising, she was involved with Red Rock Recreation LLC for seven years. Sovereign Financial Group serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services. The firm emphasizes long-term investment strategies using low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, while also incorporating tactical reallocations and alternative investments through independent managers and proprietary funds.

He Ma is a financial advisor at CSP Financial Group LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked in roles at firms including GoHealth, UnitedHealthcare, and JM Capital Group LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he is training as an AutoCAD designer for Grantham Designing. CSP Financial Group provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm emphasizes portfolio construction and monitoring based on Modern Portfolio Theory and employs third-party managers such as Matson Money to implement model allocations.

Joshua Robinson is a CFP® professional at West Ridge Advisors with four years of industry experience. Prior to joining West Ridge Advisors in 2021, he worked at Ace Workforce Technologies and Findlay Middle School. West Ridge Advisors serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as retirement plan sponsors, providing financial planning, investment consultation, and portfolio management. The firm employs a team of 11 advisors and manages approximately $396 million in client assets, focusing on Modern Portfolio Theory with global diversification, tax efficiency, and low-cost investment vehicles.

Andrew Majd is a financial advisor with Dew Wealth Management in Scottsdale, AZ. He holds a Series 65 designation and has five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Dew Wealth Management in 2020, he worked at Optima Capital Management and Bank of America, Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory role, he has experience working with a menswear business and participated in the Sawdust Festival of the Arts. Dew Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations with family-office style programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and investment management. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and coordinates with clients’ other professionals as part of its multi-month programs and ongoing services.

Kevin Shorts is a financial advisor at Tribeca Financial, LLC in Gilbert, AZ, holding a Series 65 license with 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Tribeca Financial since 2008. Outside of his advisory role, Shorts is an independent insurance agent and manages Shorts Financial Services, LLC. Tribeca Financial provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, and charitable entities. The firm uses a structured, market-rate oriented approach focused on passive, globally diversified portfolios aimed at long-term growth.

Christy Pater Schmitt is a financial advisor at Fortitude Family Office in Scottsdale, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 41 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Bridgelight Capital, and Wedbush Securities Inc. since 2009. Fortitude Family Office primarily serves high-net-worth individuals, families, and related entities, providing investment management, comprehensive wealth planning, and family office services. The firm combines traditional family office operations with a private fund sponsor role, managing both liquid and illiquid investments across varied asset classes.

Brian Riordan is a CFA® charterholder with 13 years of experience in the financial industry. He has been with L. Roy Papp & Associates, LLP since 2004, where he serves as part of a multi-advisor team. The firm provides customized investment management and advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, trusts, pension plans, foundations, and corporations. L. Roy Papp & Associates follows a fundamentally driven, growth-oriented investment strategy focused on domestic equities, fixed income, ETFs, and mutual funds, managing approximately $1.5 billion in client assets.

Edward Maruna is a financial advisor with Blakely Walters Wealth Management in Scottsdale, AZ. He holds a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience, including prior roles at LPL Financial and Next Financial Group. Maruna also serves in the United States Air Force Reserve. Blakely Walters Wealth Management provides wealth management services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm combines discretionary asset management with financial planning, utilizing fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis, and employs sub-advisors and alternative strategies to tailor investment programs.

Scott Sollars is a CFP® professional with 25 years of experience in financial advising. He is currently with Benefit Financial Services Group and previously worked at Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. among other firms. Sollars holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Phoenix, AZ. Benefit Financial Services Group serves individuals, trusts, family entities, corporations, and employer-sponsored retirement plans through wealth management and institutional services. The firm manages over $1.5 billion in discretionary assets and consults on approximately $18 billion in retirement plan assets, employing diversified, model-based investment strategies that include mutual funds, ETFs, private investments, and ESG approaches.

James Dew is a CFP® and ChFC® with 22 years of industry experience and has been a principal at Dew Wealth Management since 1999. He is a licensed insurance agent who maintains licensure solely for trail commissions and serves as an independent trustee for trusts of non-clients. Dew is also an author of educational books on investing and financial planning, from which he continues to receive royalty payments. Dew Wealth Management serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations through family-office style programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and investment management. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary management and often coordinates directly with other client professionals as part of its Virtual Family Office and Wealth Accelerator programs.