Michele Phillippi is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Mount Laurel, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has worked at Valic Financial Advisors since 2019 and previously held positions at OneAmerica Securities and American United Life. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, as well as corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing Envestnet-developed UMA models for portfolio construction.

Charles Wang is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with 20 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012 and World Financial Group since 2009. His other business activities include the sale of insurance products affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individual investors, pension plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services with a variety of investment programs and access to third-party money managers, managing over $1.6 billion in discretionary assets.

Alisha Patel is a Series 65 licensed financial advisor at Mariner with one year of industry experience. Her career includes roles at TritonPoint Capital, TritonPoint Wealth, and Sage Group. Mariner serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party managers. The firm offers customized discretionary portfolios supported by in-house research and a range of strategies spanning equities, fixed income, alternatives, and digital assets, along with integrated tax and accounting services.

Joseph Hymowitz is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 11 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he worked at J.P. Morgan Securities and JPMorgan Chase Bank for nine years, as well as PNC Investments and PNC Bank for one year each. 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’s integrated model ties financial planning and managed account solutions to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Jake Kreppel is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with four years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Alphastar Capital Management, JPMorgan Chase Bank, and Equitable Advisors. Kreppel also serves as Vice President and Independent Insurance Sales Agent at Kreppel Tax Advisory Group, specializing in tax planning and insurance sales. AE Wealth Management provides fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement-plan consulting to a wide range of clients, including individuals, corporations, trusts, and ERISA plan sponsors. The firm manages approximately $49.8 billion using discretionary model portfolios and offers comprehensive reporting and client review services through a standardized platform approach.

Kristen Roldan is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF with 13 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2017. Her prior experience includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. 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 with existing employer retirement plan relationships. The firm offers both point-in-time planning services and ongoing discretionary management using model or customized portfolios.

Paul Branca is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group, holding Series 65, Series 63, and Series 66 designations and 24 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at J.P. Morgan Institutional Investments Inc., JPMorgan Investment Management Inc., Merrill, 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 for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s approach integrates proprietary and third-party planning methodologies focused on long-term portfolio returns and savings rates, supported by an extensive platform tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative services.

Mariella Foley is a CFP® with 18 years of experience in financial advising. She has been with Cerity Partners LLC since 2022, following a 22-year tenure at Round Table Wealth Management. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services with an investment approach that integrates client-specific profiles, quantitative screening, and access to alternative and private market solutions.

Robert Davis is a CFA® charterholder with 19 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC since 2022. Prior to joining Cerity, he spent 16 years at Round Table Wealth Management. He is involved in private equity investing as a general partner and manager of due diligence, selection, and monitoring for a private equity fund of funds. Cerity Partners advises a diverse range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, families, charitable institutions, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services with an investment approach that combines client-specific profiles, quantitative screening, manager selection, and access to alternative and private market solutions.

Yan Wang is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has been with Transamerica Financial Advisors since 2012. Wang is also president of Yongan Corp, a role he has held since 2013. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, and corporations. The firm offers both advisory and broker-dealer services with a variety of proprietary and third-party investment programs.

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.

Bridger Dawson is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation along with Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. His prior work includes roles at Edward Jones and Charles Schwab Bank. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments, offering comprehensive investment advisory and planning services. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, utilizing globally diversified portfolios with low-cost ETFs, index funds, and other strategies, supported by a range of specialized services and client education initiatives.

Shivani Patel is a financial advisor at TD Private Client Wealth LLC with Series 66 credentials and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining TD, she worked for six years at CIBC and held roles at Sundaram Finance and TD Bank. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional clients, high-net-worth individuals, and retail clients, utilizing a mix of strategic and tactical asset allocation through both affiliated and third-party sub-managers.

John Lapilusa is a financial advisor at Cetera Planning Partners with 27 years of industry experience and holds the Series 66 designation. His prior experience includes roles at Avantax Investment Services, 1st Global Advisors, and O’Connor, Davies LLP. He serves as secretary and trustee for Peace Care Inc., a nonprofit organization overseeing nursing homes. Cetera Planning Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on pre-retirees and retirees by providing investment management, comprehensive financial planning, Social Security optimization, and retirement advice. The firm offers additional services such as tax planning, bookkeeping, and estate planning through a third-party provider, employing a diversified investment approach aligned with clients' objectives and risk tolerance.

Justin Murray is a financial advisor with TD Private Client Wealth LLC in Princeton, NJ, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses with three years of industry experience. Prior to his current role, he worked at TD Bank N.A. and has owned an independent music label, Tilla Entertainment, since 2017. TD Private Client Wealth LLC provides discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional clients, high-net-worth individuals, and retail clients, combining strategic and tactical asset allocation with investments from both affiliated and third-party managers.

Jan Nilsen is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Berkeley Heights, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2006 and also serves as an agent with Agia, working with non-securities insurance products. Valic Financial Advisors serves primarily U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients and employer-sponsored retirement participants, offering wrap programs, portfolio management, and financial planning through a large network of advisors. The firm employs discretionary unified managed accounts using Envestnet’s platform and supports a high client count per advisor with centralized technology and model solutions.

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.

Luander Mccaskill is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF and TIAA since 2015. Outside of his advisory work, he owns a single-family home rental property. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, corporate entities, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm offers point-in-time planning services as well as ongoing discretionary management using model and customized portfolios, and it advises the TIAA Donor Advised Fund.