Paul Branca is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 65, Series 63, and Series 66 credentials and bringing 23 years of industry experience. His prior roles include nearly a decade at J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments and National Professional Planning Group. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a caretaker assisting his disabled daughter. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Daniel Armas is a CFP® with 23 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at CWM, LLC. His prior roles include positions at Gold Family Wealth, Vanderbilt Securities, Gitterman Wealth Management, and Triad Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he is a board member of Embrace Kids Foundation, participating in philanthropy and fundraising activities. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, families, foundations, corporations, and institutional clients through a network of over 600 advisors. The firm provides portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services, managing accounts primarily on a discretionary basis with model portfolios guided by an in-house Investment Committee.

Caterina Gage is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 18 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2007. Outside of her advisory role, she is the authorized representative of Gagliardi Tile Installations LLC, a non-investment-related business that is currently inactive. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, providing investment advisory programs, broker-dealer execution, and custody services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through both discretionary and non-discretionary programs and operates with large institutional scale and unique market roles.

Ekta Parekh is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Edison, NJ, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. She previously worked with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Company before joining Eagle Strategies and affiliated NY Life entities in 2023. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved as a committee member with Boys Scout Troop 86. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and retirement plans. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services, often integrating insurance and annuity products, with a focus on tailored, mostly non-discretionary advisory solutions.

Craig Ballington is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with both Penn Mutual and Hornor, Townsend & Kent since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in life insurance brokerage, serving as an agent and managing partner of related insurance ventures. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans through a network of advisers, offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates both advisory and broker-dealer services, providing custody, execution, and brokerage capabilities alongside investment advice.

Rakesh Sharma is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Edison, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 28 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Eagle Strategies since 2014 and also operates DGP Financial, LLC, which focuses on selling New York Life products and brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Gerald Clericuzio is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 30 years of industry experience. He has worked at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2010. Clericuzio is also the chairman and owner of Planning Alliance LLC, a general agency, and owns Planning Alliance Consulting, LLC, which provides consulting services to businesses and estates. Park Avenue Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory services with a variety of proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Walter Pereira is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 10 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Wells Fargo and Merrill prior to joining Empower. Pereira holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns and client savings rates over short-term forecasts.

Bryan Kuderna is a CFP® with 16 years of experience currently with Primerica Advisors and Guardian Life Insurance Company. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for Family Health and Wellness at The Community YMCA, publishes financial literacy books, writes articles for Broker World, hosts a weekly podcast on finance and business topics, and assists medical residents with tax preparation. Primerica Advisors operates under Park Avenue Securities LLC, serving a broad retail client base with both brokerage and advisory services. The firm offers various investment programs and utilizes proprietary models and third-party managers to provide diversified portfolio solutions.

Yechezkel Malamud is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Brooklyn, NY, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC, New York Life Insurance Co., and RealStreet Inc. He is also appointed as an insurance broker with outside carriers for brokering non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of investment adviser representatives. The firm delivers tailored advice through multiple program types and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis, with a focus on serving retirement investors and institutional plan sponsors.

John Shall Jr. is a financial advisor with Cetera Planning Partners and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 20 years of industry experience and has worked at firms including Avantax and 1st Global Advisors. In addition to his advisory role, he is a partner and senior accountant at DeSantis, Kiefer, Shall & Sarcone LLP, an accounting firm where he is involved in tax and financial statement preparation. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees with services that include investment management, comprehensive financial planning, and Social Security optimization. The firm offers additional services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, payroll support, and estate planning, employing a diversified investment approach aligned with client objectives and risk tolerance.

Tremaine Bembry is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Hornor Townsend & Kent since 2019. Prior to that, he was associated with MML Investors Services and MassMutual. Bembry also owns and operates a life insurance brokerage serving attorneys under the Attorney Resource Group brand. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans through a network of advisers, offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines advisory and broker-dealer services and employs third-party asset managers in both discretionary and non-discretionary account structures.

Patrick Maly is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. who holds 37 years of industry experience. His career includes long tenures at Metlife Securities Inc. and Mass Mutual Investors Services. Outside of advising, he is involved as an insurance agent with Integrated Financial Concepts LLC. Equity Services, Inc., also known as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to a wide range of clients including individuals, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms that combine long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios.

Deirdre De Rosa is a Certified Financial Planner® at Wealthspire Advisors with eight years of industry experience. She has previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and Fiduciary Trust Company. De Rosa has also been involved with RoundAngle Advisors LLC, focusing on financial planning and model portfolio trading. Wealthspire Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $34.3 billion in assets and serving individuals, corporate and pension plans, nonprofits, and foundations. The firm employs an institutional-style asset allocation framework using a combination of mutual funds, ETFs, private investments, and separate account managers, with services tailored through client interviews and ongoing monitoring.

Peter Levine is a financial advisor with OSAIC Institutions, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 38 years of industry experience. His work history includes positions at Apple Bank, Infinex Investments, JP Morgan Securities, and HSBC Securities. Outside of finance, Levine works part-time in event staffing as a waiter and bartender and has experience merchandising supermarkets and drugstores. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC‑registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services through a network of investment adviser representatives and operates a hybrid adviser/broker‑dealer model that includes access to alternative investments and a lending marketplace.

Christine Weighell is a financial advisor at Sanctuary Advisors, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and WELLS FARGO Advisors, LLC. She is based in Shrewsbury, NJ. Sanctuary Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. The firm supports a range of investment approaches and account management styles through a network of more than 400 independent adviser representatives.

Nancy Protopapas is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services in Holmdel, NJ, holding a Series 63 designation and over 22 years of industry experience. She has worked at Principal Securities Inc. since 2002 and Principal Life Insurance since 2001. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as president of Auto Solutions Inc. and is a designated bank officer at Principal Bank and Trust Company, supporting retirement plan account relationships. Principal Securities offers brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty military personnel. The firm provides direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions under multiple advisory and promoter arrangements.

Richard Harris is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Red Bank, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. He has worked with National Life Group, Equity Services Inc., and Maxwell Harris Co. since 2001. Outside of advisory services, he is an active insurance agent specializing in life, disability, long-term care, and health insurance. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm combines long-term investment strategies with various advisory platforms and frequently uses third-party asset managers and model portfolios.

Vatsal Patel is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Edison, NJ, holding the Series 66 credential and seven years of industry experience. He has worked at firms including Bank of America, Merrill, Edward Jones, and New York Life. Outside of his advisory work, Patel owns and operates a beer and wine convenience store called Windsor Shoppe. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base, providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm offers multiple program types and focuses on tailoring advice to client goals, with a significant portion of assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

Michael Ricciardi is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 26 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at Prudential Investment Management Services and The Prudential Insurance Company of America. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.