Stephen Wzontek is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 45 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at Royal Alliance Associates, INC. for 34 years and OSAIC for 2 years. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory services including financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supporting a network of over 22,800 advisors.

Melissa Smith is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise holding a Series 66 designation and has been with the firm since 2026. Her prior work experience includes roles outside the financial industry at companies such as New Era Cap and Sherwin Williams. LPL Enterprise, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach and provides access to third-party asset managers, financial planning, and various affiliated trust and insurance services.

John Pacella is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and bringing 35 years of industry experience. He has been with Wells Fargo Clearing since 2016. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting, managing approximately $671 billion in assets and employing over 14,000 financial advisors. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory solutions, emphasizing research-driven investment analysis and diversified portfolio management.

Dominick Lanuti is a financial advisor at LPL Financial in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations with 20 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at M&T Securities and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. over the past 15 years. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of services including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of advisors and technology tools for operational and research support.

William Hoock is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise since 2004. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service aimed at individuals approaching or in retirement with significant investable assets. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis to provide written recommendation reports through a centralized consulting team, serving clients with a broad range of advisory, brokerage, and insurance solutions.

Kimberly Hobart is a financial advisor at Merrill with 25 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Merrill since 1995. Outside of her advisory role, she is a managing member and general partner of HGR Property LLC, where she assists with bookkeeping for the company. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program. The firm offers model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Justin La Rosa is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Orchard Park, NY, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and having five years of industry experience. His background includes roles at Mass Mutual Life Insurance and multiple school districts. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved as an insurance broker and serves as a strength and nutrition advisor, providing tailored training programs and guided workouts. Mass Mutual Investors Services is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser subsidiary of MassMutual that provides financial planning and asset management to individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm’s approach includes collaborative, annual planning engagements using firm-approved tools to analyze client goals, with implementation of recommendations requiring separate arrangements.

John Macdonald is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2013 and prior to that was with Axa Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved as an educator with ACN Inc. and serves as a referral agent for Bison Insurance Services, LLC. Equitable Advisors serves individual, institutional, and charitable clients with financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs. The firm utilizes a range of advisory models including third-party asset managers and LPL-sponsored programs, focusing on matching clients to suitable investment solutions without sponsoring its own wrap fee program.

Anthony Dinderski is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Equitable Advisors, he held roles in various fields including operations at Docu-Shred USA and seasonal work with Spirit Halloween. He has a background that includes education and carpentry. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals to institutional clients, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm’s approach involves personalized risk assessment and matching clients to advisory programs, utilizing both proprietary and third-party solutions.

Mark Cryan is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at SagePoint Financial, Inc. for 14 years. Outside of his advisory role, he operates as an independent insurance agent through a sole proprietorship. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors, with a platform offering brokerage and advisory services such as comprehensive financial planning and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a model-based investment approach incorporating portfolio optimization and risk tolerance assessments.

Chau Casillas is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with a Series 66 credential and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Enterprise, Casillas worked at The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities LLC. Outside of finance, Casillas has experience managing a small business, Divine Nail Spa Inc. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, and institutions. The firm’s investment approach is model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by LPL’s Research Department and third-party strategists, with notable offerings that include trustee services and insurance products through affiliated entities.

Nancy Beale is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. She has worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney since 2009 and has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 1987. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individual and institutional clients. The firm provides a range of advisory programs including financial planning services that use structured discovery processes and modeling tools to support client outcomes.

Jacob Katz is a CFP® credentialed financial advisor with Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc., where he has worked since 2014. He has 12 years of industry experience. Katz serves as a board member for the Erie1 Boces Education Foundation, involved in resource allocation and fundraising for local schools. He is also a partner and part-owner of Scheff Investment Group LLC and Scheff Liddell Wealth Group, where he works as a financial advisor. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm provides tailored, non-discretionary planning and consulting using analytical tools and supports municipal and public finance through a unique affiliation, along with specialized advisory programs.

Scott Weber is a financial advisor with J.P. Morgan Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 13 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at PRUCO Securities, KEY BANK, and Key Investment Services. J.P. Morgan Securities provides institutional consulting services to plan sponsors, corporations, endowments, and other institutional clients. The firm’s advisory process combines quantitative screening and qualitative research to deliver written asset allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting.

Diane Beresniewicz is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 24 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with RBC Wealth Management since 2008. RBC Wealth Management serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs that provide discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services tailored to each client’s risk profile.

Christina Bottega is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at UBS Financial Services for 22 years before joining RBC in 2024. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves individual investors, institutional clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs featuring discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services tailored to clients’ risk profiles.

Lisa Yuhnke is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with eight years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Axa Advisors, Llc, and Aurubis Buffalo, Inc. Lisa is a board member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Tonawanda. Equitable Advisors serves individual and institutional clients, providing financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives. The firm offers a variety of investment options, including mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and alternative investments, and it provides ERISA fiduciary services for qualified plans.

Michael Knavel is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has been with Equitable Advisors since 2011, including working at Axa Advisors prior to its integration with Equitable. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset-management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives and a variety of third-party and proprietary advisory solutions.

John Downing is a CFP® professional affiliated with LPL Financial, with eight years of experience in the financial industry. He has previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. and operates Downing Financial Group. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of representatives, serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment solutions, including third-party asset management and institutional platforms.

Matthew Scheff is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc., Scheff Thompson Cress Investment Group, Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., and ACV Auctions. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm provides advisory and brokerage services through a large network of investment adviser representatives, offering a range of investment strategies and financial planning solutions.