Michelle Lafuente is a financial advisor at Merit Financial Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. She holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at PKS Investments, Commonwealth Financial Network, LPL Financial, Advantage Investment Management, and TL Financial Group. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and other institutional clients. The firm focuses on long-term, diversified asset allocation with a centralized investment management team and uses a combination of internal management, third-party managers, and customizable model portfolios.

Mary Hanson Kent is a financial advisor at Bison Wealth, LLC with a Series 65 credential and one year of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Raymond James and Village Global. Bison Wealth serves individuals, high net worth clients, family offices, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, providing financial planning, portfolio management, model portfolios, access to third-party managers, and ERISA retirement plan services. The firm’s investment approach focuses on outcome-driven, multi-manager model portfolios blending tactical and strategic allocations across liquid and private-market strategies.

Richard Grucz is a financial advisor with Silver Oak Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 40 years of industry experience. His prior firms include SagePoint Financial, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., OSAIC Services, Inc., and Sunamerica Securities, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, he is also a licensed insurance agent. Silver Oak Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and trusts. The firm offers various advisory programs with a primarily discretionary investment approach tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances, supported by distinct operational platforms and a network of over 100 financial professionals.

Michael Guillery is a financial advisor at Lifemark Securities Corp. with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at firms including Q3 Asset Management and Intervest International Equities Corp. He is also the owner of Lighthouse Tax and Investment Planning, where he sells insurance products. Lifemark Securities Corp. provides fee-based investment advisory services and financial planning primarily to individual investors and retirement plan sponsors. The firm offers a range of portfolio programs and emphasizes suitability-driven advice with accounts managed on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Justin Halvorson is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Plante Moran Financial Advisors with four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Michigan State University, Uber, and Mulder Management. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, institutional investors, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multifaceted investment approach combining fundamental, technical, and cyclical analyses, typically managing a majority of assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Anthony Lajeunesse is a financial advisor with Merit Financial Advisors in Southgate, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and possessing 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Commonwealth Financial Network, LPL Financial, Advantage Investment Management, and TL Financial Group. Merit Financial Group is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, ESOPs, and other institutional clients. The firm focuses on long-term, diversified asset allocation using centrally managed model portfolios, supported by an internal investment management team and investment committee.

Bianca Candela is a financial advisor with Plante Moran Financial Advisors in Detroit, MI. She holds a Series 65 credential and has experience working at Morgan Stanley and in various educational roles, including at the University of Detroit Mercy and Eisenhower High School. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base that includes high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and government entities. The firm integrates fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis with proprietary models and employs both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management approaches.

Michael Ulle is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with four years of industry experience. He has worked at Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2023 and previously held roles at Fidelity Investments, Ernst and Young, and Wealth Strategies Financial Group. Plante Moran Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base including individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis in its investment process and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management services.

Omar Baadarani is a financial advisor with Sequent Planning, LLC in Dearborn, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 14 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Bank of America, N.A. and Merrill from 2010 to 2024. Sequent Planning, LLC operates as Futurity First Wealth Management and serves individuals, retirement plan sponsors, businesses, endowments, and nonprofits. The firm offers a range of services including asset management and fiduciary retirement-plan solutions, utilizing diversified manager exposures and tax-aware strategies delivered by a network of independent adviser representatives.

Jacqueline Venier is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience. She has been with Plante Moran Financial Advisors since 2006 and is also a partner at Plante & Moran, PLLC. Plante Moran Financial Advisors provides investment advisory, financial planning, and estate planning services to a diverse client base that includes individual households, institutional clients, and sovereign wealth funds. The firm employs a multifaceted investment process incorporating fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside a proprietary equity market valuation model.

Brett Deeter is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at Oppenheimer in Wyandotte, MI, with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Oppenheimer & Co since 2014. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension plans, charitable organizations, and IRAs. The firm provides a range of programs including asset management, consulting, and retirement services, using both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches across various portfolio types.

Joseph Dixon is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 44 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2009. Outside of advisory work, he is a 50% owner of rental property within Executive Office Suites of Trenton. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional plans. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms, utilizing a mix of passive and active investment strategies tailored to client risk profiles.

Kyle Glaab is a CFP® with 16 years of industry experience and is affiliated with SPC in New Boston, MI. He has been with Sigma Planning Corporation since 2011 and also maintains ongoing roles at Sigma Financial Corporation and Creative Insurance Planning. Outside of his advisory responsibilities, he serves as president of Third Gen Financial, Inc. and is a notary public in Oakland County, MI. SPC offers investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individual investors, employer-sponsored retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm delivers tailored, discretionary advice through a large network of advisors and maintains affiliations with broker-dealers and insurance agencies, alongside strategic partnerships with third parties.

Sean Klotz is a financial advisor at Hantz Financial Services, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has a work history that includes roles at DoorDash, Olga's Kitchen, and Eastern Michigan University. Hantz Financial Services serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable and corporate clients, and business owners. The firm provides financial planning, portfolio and wealth management primarily through ETF-based model portfolios supplemented by third-party managers, along with retirement plan consulting and brokerage, mortgage, and insurance services through affiliated entities.

Philip Buccini is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Wyandotte, MI, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Fahnestock & Co., Inc. since 1999. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals—including high net worth clients—corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, pooled investment vehicles, and IRAs. The firm offers a range of programs encompassing asset management, consulting, and retirement services, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary approaches across equity, balanced, and fixed-income portfolios.

Michael Tafelski is a CFP® professional with over 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Fifth Third Securities, Inc. since 2007. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, corporations, trusts, and retirement accounts through both investment advisory and brokerage services. Fifth Third Securities offers various managed account programs and portfolio management options on its Passageway platform and operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fifth Third Bank.

Michael Lacombe is a CFP® and ChFC® with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving at Hantz Financial Services, Inc. since 1999. He holds a Series 63 license and is based in Taylor, MI. Hantz Financial Services, Inc. serves a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charities, corporations, and business owners. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio and wealth management primarily through ETF-based model portfolios, supplemented by third-party money managers and Direct Indexing, while integrating advisory, broker-dealer, mortgage, and insurance services.

Jaeyoung Kang is a financial advisor with Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Canton, MI. He holds a Series 65 designation and has experience at firms including Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase & Co, and Prince Perelson & Associates. Kang's career also includes roles in academia at the University of Wisconsin and Michigan State University. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering a range of advisory services including investment management, financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost ETFs, index funds, and specialized strategies.

Kristen Horvath is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 14 years of industry experience. She has been with TIAA-CREF since 2014. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and manages a for-profit Etsy shop focused on design creation. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and other entities, often serving clients with existing TIAA retirement plan relationships. The firm provides both point-in-time planning and ongoing portfolio management, including customized and model-based investment options.

Brandon Wylie is a financial advisor at Hantz Financial Services, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Hantz Financial Services since 2022. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an ice hockey referee for USA Hockey. Hantz Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business owners. The firm employs ETF-based model portfolios complemented by third-party managers and utilizes technologies such as automated tax-loss harvesting and AI-assisted client data aggregation.