Richard Soennichsen is a CFP® with 41 years of industry experience, currently serving at Independent Financial Group, LLC since 2024. His prior roles include tenures at Grove Point Advisors, LLC, Grove Point Investments, LLC, H. Beck, Inc., and AFA Advisor Services LLC. He is also a licensed California insurance agent with experience dating back to 1985. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional plans. The firm employs a combination of strategic asset allocation, multi-manager portfolios, and both passive and active exposures to develop client strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary management platforms.

Michael Mays is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer and 50% shareholder of JSMD Wealth Management, Inc. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients, offering a range of advisor-managed programs, financial planning services, and outsourced CIO solutions through an open-architecture platform integrating multiple third-party managers.

Ethan Kearns is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he has been involved in entrepreneurial activities including operating a custom upholstery business. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types on the Passageway Managed Account platform, utilizing third-party portfolio managers and various investment strategies such as SMA models, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

John Himmel is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and two years of industry experience. He has previously worked at several firms, including Freedom Mortgage and loanDepot.com. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as for Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders, delivering services through an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

David Delarosa is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 18 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameritas firms since 2008 and is also involved with Martinez Agency and Martinez & Winter, focusing on fixed insurance products. He operates a sole proprietorship, DeLaRosa Plan Administration, providing retirement plan informational return preparation. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC offers investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm provides asset management and consulting through a variety of program platforms and integrates model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities.

Troy Pearson is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 29 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Independent Financial Group since 2004. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate and pension plans. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management solutions, utilizing both firm- and third-party models to tailor investment strategies based on client risk tolerances.

David Cariani is a CFP® and CFA® with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently with Private Advisor Group, LLC, where he has worked since 2022, following roles at Centura Wealth Advisory, Reilly Financial Advisors, Merrill, and Valuevest Management Company II. Outside of his advisory work, Mr. Cariani operates under the business name Advanced Wealth Advisory, LLC and holds an insurance license, offering insurance products separately from his investment services. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model and utilizes technology platforms and third-party managers to implement a range of investment strategies.

Brian Solomon is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory Services, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and bringing 39 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Independent Financial Group, Inc. and Sentra Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of a tax and accounting firm and serves on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Northwest San Diego. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse range of institutional and individual clients, including large plan sponsors. The firm offers services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms and third-party solutions.

Cara Witt Landefeld is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with nine years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, and EquityBee prior to her current role. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies and combines large institutional scale with specialized market roles, including derivatives and futures services.

Taylor Hindle is a CFP® professional with 10 years of industry experience. He is currently with Mariner Wealth Advisors, where he has worked since 2023. Prior to that, he held roles at Aldrich Wealth LP, Tate Asset Management, and Fidelity. He serves on the Board of Directors for Lifeline Community Services in Vista, CA. Mariner Wealth Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth households, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines in-house research with third-party manager allocations and offers extensive tax, accounting, and family office services alongside traditional portfolio management.

Brian Buehring is a financial advisor with D.A. Davidson & Co. in Carlsbad, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 27 years of industry experience. He has been with D.A. Davidson & Co. since 2017. D.A. Davidson & Co. provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including employer-sponsored retirement plans, high-net-worth individuals, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm offers ERISA retirement plan advisory services, comprehensive financial planning, and a private wealth program for clients with over $20 million in net worth.

Mark Welsh is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 24 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at firms including Laurel Wealth Advisors, Torrey Pines Securities, Nexcore Financial Services, and UBS Financial Services. Welsh has been with Integrated Wealth Concepts since 2023. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office, and retirement plan advisory services, utilizing customized portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds, ETFs, individual equities, and fixed income.

Trevor Lattin is a financial advisor at Integrity Alliance, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with firms including Lion Street, Inc. and Executive Benefit Solutions, where he is also an owner involved in health and life insurance sales. He serves as a board member for Last Race Ranch, a nonprofit organization providing new homes for retired racehorses. Integrity Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and retirement plans through a network of 164 independent advisers. The firm offers a range of investment management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services, utilizing multiple platforms and investment approaches tailored to client needs.

Anthony Pavia is a financial advisor at PlanMember Securities Corporation with 35 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has previously worked at Gwn Securities Inc. and operated his own firms, including Pavia Financial Services, Inc. and RetireWell Capital Management. Outside of his advisory roles, he is involved in residential loan brokerage through Pavia Financial Services. PlanMember Securities Corporation provides retirement-plan advisory services to employers and plan participants, acting as an ERISA Section 3(38) fiduciary for many plans. The firm uses a top-down strategic asset allocation approach to manage risk-based mutual fund portfolios and offers education and support services to plan sponsors and participants.

Emily Stevens is a financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Stratos Wealth Partners in 2026, she worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Charles Schwab Bank, SSB from 2023 to 2026. Stratos Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and other institutional clients through an IAR-driven model and an open-architecture investment approach integrating multiple third-party managers and platforms.

Erick Conway is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® designation and Series 66 license. Prior to joining Integrated Wealth Concepts in 2024, he worked at Von Berge Wealth Management Group, Laurel Wealth Advisors, and Wells Fargo Advisors. He is also an independent insurance agent licensed to sell life, accident, and health insurance products. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office, and retirement plan advisory services, utilizing customized portfolios with a long-term investment approach alongside shorter-term trades for rebalancing or cash needs.

Branden Frazier is a Certified Financial Planner® at Creative Planning with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Creative Planning since 2012. Based in San Diego, CA, he is part of a large advisory team serving a diverse client base. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and emphasizes a financial planning-led investment process that includes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Courtney Hincks is a financial advisor at Concurrent Investment Advisors, LLC with seven years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Commonwealth Financial Network and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Outside of her advisory work, she coaches youth lacrosse for the Coronado Lacrosse Club. Concurrent Investment Advisors is a multi-team SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm offers customized, primarily long-term wealth and investment management using ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities, supported by a network of approximately 286 advisors serving over 13,000 clients.

Mike Batista is a CFP® with 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Creative Planning since 2015 and previously worked at Fidelity and PRUCO Securities, LLC. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a broad client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and corporations. The firm uses a financial-planning-led investment approach that emphasizes low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies while incorporating tax-loss harvesting and selective private market exposure.

Carmen Benedetti is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors in San Diego, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Hightower, Benedetti worked at Frozen Ropes and the Houston Astros. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager approach that includes affiliated and third-party managers, discretionary portfolio management, and access to pooled vehicles and private funds.