Diego Verdugo is a CFP® professional based in Phoenix, AZ, with 11 years of industry experience. He has held various roles within Principal Financial Services and its affiliates since 2012. Outside of his advisory work, Verdugo serves as Executive Vice President of Business Development for the Association of Latino Professionals of America and holds board positions with multiple nonprofit organizations focused on youth entrepreneurship, minority development, and community service. He is also a managing member of a construction company he co-founded with his wife. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers direct advisory programs, financial planning, and access to third-party money manager solutions, with investment implementation typically managed on a discretionary basis by third-party advisors.

Michelle Petrowski is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with seven years of industry experience, currently with Schwab Wealth Advisory. She has worked at several firms, including Vanguard Advisers and Ellevest, and is the CEO and founder of New Direction Financial Strategies LLC, which focuses on divorce financial analysis and related services. Petrowski also contributes as a public speaker and serves as a contributing editor for The Street: Retirement Daily. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients by providing non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations. The firm’s advice relies on Schwab’s asset-allocation models and internal research and is characterized by at-least-annual reviews tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Christian Maracinaru is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Charles Schwab Bank and Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. for 11 years and spent two years at Apple, Inc. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm also advises a donor-advised fund and offers customized portfolio management through dedicated portfolio managers.

Andrew Smith is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. since 1999 and joined Schwab Wealth Advisory in 2026. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning primarily to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain referred clients. The firm’s approach uses Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset-allocation models and research tools to offer tailored recommendations, with trades conducted only upon client authorization.

Brendan Weaver is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory based in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Charles Schwab, Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company, Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank and Securities. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients, offering non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and wealth management consultations. The firm provides guidance on asset allocation and investment selection using Schwab’s internal research tools, with client trades requiring authorization and periodic reviews tailored to individual goals and risk tolerance.

Richard Myers is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with seven years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Robinhood Markets, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc. prior to joining Schwab. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning services primarily to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program. The firm’s advice is based on Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset allocation models and research tools, with investment recommendations tailored to clients’ goals and risk tolerance.

Damian Shaw is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors. His prior experience includes roles at Charles Schwab Bank and Charles Schwab Trust Company. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that incorporates affiliated and third-party managers, proprietary research, and a variety of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Brent Fooks is a financial advisor with United Planners' Financial Services of America, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license. He has 18 years of industry experience and has been associated with United Planners and Rogers & Kirby for over a decade. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a secretary and board member for Base Camp Missions Corp. United Planners Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm operates with an open-architecture platform using multiple custodians and third-party money managers, offering both fee-based and commission-based options through its network of 477 independent advisors.

William Brooks is a Series 65-licensed advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. He also serves as a wealth manager at Oxford Retirement & Estate Planning and teaches adult financial education classes through Dare to Retire U. Outside of his advisory roles, he works as a bartender at The Cross Eyed Cricket Watering Hole. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm emphasizes model portfolio and direct asset management programs with a range of investment strategies and supports third-party RIAs through sub-advisory and model-licensing arrangements.

Timothy Hatton is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Creative Planning. He previously led Hatton Consulting, Inc. for 21 years before joining Creative Planning in 2022. Based in Phoenix, AZ, he holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, and corporations. The firm emphasizes a financial-planning-led investment approach using low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by tax-loss harvesting and selective private market investments.

Christopher Wedlich is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with Series 63 and Series 66 designations and three years of industry experience. He previously worked at USAA FSB for ten years before joining Schwab. Schwab Wealth Advisory serves clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab Co.-referred clients, offering non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning based on Schwab’s standard asset-allocation models and internal research tools. The firm focuses on guidance tailored to client goals and risk tolerance, with trades executed only upon client authorization.

Joseph Bergen is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 16 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Financial Engines Advisors L.L.C., Bancwest Investment Services, and Charles Schwab. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning, discretionary managed account programs, and broker-dealer services primarily to individuals connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management using model and customized portfolios.

Emily Anderson is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. She previously worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Banner Health, Starbucks Coffee Company, the University of Arizona, and the U.S. Department of State. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and wealth management consultations primarily for clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm utilizes Charles Schwab’s asset-allocation models and research tools to guide investment selection and conducts annual reviews tailored to client goals and risk tolerance.

Matthew Refner is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory in Phoenix, AZ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and possessing 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at The Vanguard Group, Inc. for six years before joining Schwab Wealth Advisory and Charles Schwab in 2021. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s guidance is based on standard asset-allocation models and internal research tools, offering tailored recommendations reviewed at least annually.

Jennifer Statler is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Commonwealth Financial Network in Phoenix, AZ. Her work history includes roles at Gale Investment Management, Five Point Wealth Advisors, and Blakeman & Associates. Outside of her advisory work, she has been involved with Chaparral Christian Church since 2012. Commonwealth Financial Network supports a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients by providing advisory programs, technology, investment management, and compliance services. The firm offers a variety of program structures and discretionary model portfolios managed by its Investment Management and Research team.

Jose Monterrosa is a CFP® professional with 14 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is currently with Schwab Wealth Advisory in Phoenix, AZ, where he has worked since 2025, and has been affiliated with Charles Schwab since 2018. His prior roles include positions at PRO Unlimited, EXTENDED TRAVEL, and Beneco. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s recommendations are based on Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset-allocation models and internal research, offering guidance on a range of investment options while requiring client authorization for trades.

Joel Pietila is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Thrivent Financial and Hillsdale College. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, offering solutions that include discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager approaches, using affiliated and third-party managers along with proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles.

Joseph Abbott is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory in Phoenix, AZ. His prior experience includes roles at Charles Schwab & Co., Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, and The Vanguard Group. Abbott holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice, financial planning, and point-in-time wealth management consultations primarily for clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and certain Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s guidance is based on Charles Schwab & Co.’s asset allocation models and proprietary research, with investment decisions requiring client authorization and tailored to individual goals and risk tolerance.

Kathy Thornton is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 10 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at TIAA-CREF since 2022. Prior to that, she was with Equitable Advisors from 2016 to 2022. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and managed account programs primarily to individuals with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm offers both point-in-time planning and ongoing discretionary management, operating within a vertically integrated group that uses affiliated funds.

Mauro D'Amico is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Western International Securities and Coordinated Wealth Management, as well as operating his own firm, Mauro M D'Amico Inc, where he also provides tax preparation and bookkeeping services. Brookstone Capital Management offers fee-based asset management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and other entities. The firm employs a range of strategic and dynamic asset-allocation models and uses both proprietary and external sub-advisors to implement client portfolios.