Robert Birgen is a CFP® and PFS™ with 39 years of experience in financial advising. He currently works at Merit Financial Advisors and previously held roles at LPL Financial, Stanislawski & Harrison Wealth Management, Abridge Partners, and operated Birgen Asset Management. Outside of his financial career, he owns and produces a Christian Catholic podcast called BobtheLector. Merit Financial Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser with 264 advisors serving over 20,000 clients across 66 offices. The firm offers coordinated wealth-management services, including asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan advice, using a long-term, diversified investment approach supported by an internal Investment Management team and customizable portfolio models.

Lee Jones is a financial advisor at Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Golden State Equity Partners d/b/a Tangent Retirement, Stratos Wealth Partners, LTD., and LPL Financial. Ascentis Independent Advisors provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and businesses, offering tailored portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting. The firm employs asset allocation, fundamental and technical analysis, and utilizes third-party managers, co-advisory platforms, and a Private Direct Investments program to manage client assets.

Benjamin Thornhill is a CFP® professional with over 22 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with First Foundation Advisors since 1998. First Foundation Advisors offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm utilizes an open-architecture, multi-asset investment approach and is notable for its affiliation with FirstSun Capital Bancorp, which enables integrated banking and financial product referral services.

Jeffrey Hackbarth is a CFP® professional with 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been associated with Trilogy Capital, Inc. since 2015 and LPL Financial since 2017. His work history also includes National Planning Corporation and Trilogy Financial Services. Trilogy Capital, Inc. provides investment advisory and retirement-plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm employs a risk-based, diversified asset allocation strategy using in-house models and third-party sub-advisors, with a focus on integrating real estate considerations and retirement plan implementation features.

Shiow Yun Wu is a financial advisor at Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at several firms including CETERA Advisor Networks LLC, Voya Financial Advisors, Inc., and Royal Alliance Associates, INC. Outside of her advisory role, Wu is also engaged in insurance sales as an independent contractor. Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and advisory program access through various firm-managed and third-party platforms. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary account management with routine client reviews and employs a mix of separately managed accounts, model portfolios, and automated rebalancing tools.

Art Steven Federis is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Choreo, LLC since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at RSM US Wealth Management LLC and Halbert Hargrove. Choreo provides investment and advisory services to a diverse client base including individual investors, family offices, endowments, foundations, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm’s investment approach focuses on strategic asset allocation and diversified model portfolios managed by a centralized team and overseen by an Investment Committee.

Howard Bolotin is a financial advisor at Trilogy Capital, Inc. in Irvine, CA, with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Trilogy Capital since 2015, with prior experience at LPL Financial and National Planning Corporation. Bolotin is also an agent for Trilogy Financial Services, specializing in life insurance and fixed annuities. Trilogy Capital, Inc. offers investment advisory and retirement-plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm employs a risk-based, diversified asset allocation approach using in-house model portfolios and third-party sub-advisors, integrating advanced planning areas such as budgeting, tax strategies, and real estate considerations.

James Ruwe is a financial advisor at Modern Wealth Management, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked with several firms, including Galloway Asset Management and New York Life Insurance Co. Additionally, he is active as an insurance agent specializing in fixed annuity products. Modern Wealth Management is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $10.9 billion in assets through a group of about 94 advisors. The firm provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and modular services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored retirement plans, supported by a centralized Investment Committee and a mix of strategic and tactical portfolio approaches.

Moriah Ranade is a financial advisor at Prospera Financial Services, Inc. with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC, DFPG Investments, LLC, and Surevest Wealth Management. Prospera Financial Services, Inc. is a multi-team firm managing approximately $12.4 billion through about 207 advisors across roughly 140 offices. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, corporate and charitable entities, and retirement plans, providing investment advisory and financial planning services via multiple platforms and customizable portfolio management approaches.

Hung Sam is a financial advisor at Kovack Advisors, Inc. with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at Kovack Securities, Inc., Kovack Advisors, Inc., and Wells Fargo Clearing. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as president of a tax preparation and accounting firm and manages a separate investment-related business. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 260 advisors and over $6 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, banks, and government clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and sub-advisory services through a combination of proprietary models and third-party managers.

Mohsen Khodaverdi is a financial advisor at Foundations Investment Advisors LLC with Series 65 and Series 63 credentials and two years of industry experience. He previously worked at Lion Street Advisors and has a background in tax services through roles at Balboa Tax & Accounting Services and Personal Tax Services. Foundations Investment Advisors is a multi-advisor registered investment adviser managing approximately $10.1 billion for around 29,615 clients. The firm serves individuals, trusts, estates, and registered investment companies through a network of nearly 300 investment adviser representatives, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan support, and sub-advisory services.

Christina Hospedales is a financial advisor with Kestra Private Wealth Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and nine years of industry experience. She has been with Kestra and its affiliated entities since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she performs notary services. Kestra Private Wealth Services manages approximately $10.2 billion in client assets through nearly 200 independent advisors, serving individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of investment management and financial planning services, supporting advisors with multiple platforms and access to both in-house and third-party solutions.

Jeremy Kovacs is a CFA® charterholder with seven years of industry experience. He currently works at Perigon Wealth Management, LLC and previously held positions at Merrill and BNY Mellon NA. Perigon Wealth Management offers tailored investment advisory and wealth management services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, businesses, and banking institutions. The firm emphasizes individualized portfolio construction and ongoing oversight of sub-advisors and wrap-fee programs, with a distinctive focus on servicing banking and thrift institutions.

Murphy Megonigal is a financial advisor at Sovran Advisors, LLC with one year of industry experience. He also serves as president of KimstaffHR, Inc., a company specializing in HR and payroll outsourcing. Sovran Advisors serves individuals, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors with financial planning and portfolio management, employing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies. The firm uses a combination of active and passive investments, including mutual funds, ETFs, alternatives, and derivatives, supported by technology-driven rebalancing and administrative services.

Garrett Bradbury is a CFP® professional at Pure Financial Advisors, LLC with three years of industry experience. He has been with Pure Financial Advisors since 2022, having held multiple roles within the firm. Pure Financial Advisors, LLC is a registered investment adviser managing approximately $11.05 billion in assets and serving several thousand individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and discretionary portfolio management, utilizing academic frameworks such as modern portfolio theory and tax-aware asset location.

Jordan Mangaliman is a financial advisor at CoreCap Advisors with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked for nine years at Goldline Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he is also an insurance producer with National Life Group and Cavalier Associates, focusing on life insurance sales. CoreCap Advisors provides discretionary investment and portfolio management as well as financial planning services to individuals, retirement accounts, and institutional clients. The firm employs a relationship-oriented approach with a long-term investment horizon, utilizing a range of investment vehicles and sub-advisors while maintaining discretionary oversight.

Edward Lebeau is a financial advisor at Dynamic with 32 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Dynamic Wealth Advisors dba Legacy Financial Advisors since 2016. Dynamic serves a diverse client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, businesses, and other registered investment advisers. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement services, and sub-advisory support, employing a long-term, client-specific investment approach and providing technology and operational resources to support other advisers.

Kirk Snyder is a CFA® charterholder with 27 years of industry experience. He is currently an investment advisory representative at Sovran Advisors, LLC and has prior experience at Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Cetera Wealth Services. In addition to his advisory role, he works as an insurance agent selling fixed insurance products. Sovran Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $1.78 billion in assets through a team of 53 advisors, offering customized portfolio management and a range of model portfolios and third-party strategies.

Sam Sy is a financial advisor at Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Foresters Equity Services, Inc. from 2010 to 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he sells health and travel insurance. Packerland Brokerage Services, Inc. serves individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and advisory program access. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory services through multiple platforms, including Hilltop/Envestnet, and manages over $900 million in client assets.

Maria Carchi is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. holding a Series 66 credential and three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Company, and Equitable Advisors. ValMark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional entities. The firm’s investment approach focuses on diversified, goal-based model portfolios and asset allocation, utilizing mutual funds, ETFs, and separate-account managers with oversight from ValMark’s investment committee.