Bradley Garges is a CFP® and Series 66 license holder affiliated with Prepared Retirement Institute LLC. He has three years of industry experience, including prior roles at Cetera and Musselman Financial Solution. He is a member of the Philadelphia Estate Planning Council. Prepared Retirement Institute LLC serves individual and corporate clients by offering discretionary portfolio management and financial planning, managing approximately $307 million in assets. The firm uses tailored model portfolios, fundamental analysis, and a held-away management platform to oversee defined contribution and other externally held accounts.

Tarif Carson, CFP®, serves as the Director of Portfolio Strategy & Wealth Planner at 2nd Story Wealth Planners, LLC, where he blends nearly 20 years of portfolio management expertise with his passion for cultivating meaningful client relationships. He designs and oversees the investment portfolio models that guide clients toward their financial goals, while also working directly with clients to deliver personalized financial strategies that align with their values, aspirations, and long-term legacies. Throughout his career, Tarif has partnered with many clients—from high-net-worth individuals managing significant portfolios to underserved communities striving toward financial independence. His professional journey includes roles as a Senior Lead Planner at Facet Wealth, where he helped clients achieve major life goals such as early retirement, homeownership, and world travel, and as a Senior Financial Advisor at Vanguard, managing over $500 million in assets while collaborating with clients and their tax professionals to ensure tax-efficient decisions. Tarif’s approach to planning evolves as life changes, ensuring clients' financial plans remain flexible and forward-looking. In addition to his technical expertise, Tarif believes strongly in the power of personal growth and financial legacy. His guiding philosophy: "Your beliefs become your thoughts, your thoughts become your words, your words become your actions, your actions become your habits, your habits become your values, your values become your destiny," serves as the foundation for how he advises clients on building lasting legacies for their families. Outside of his professional role, Tarif is focused on planting the seeds of a meaningful legacy for his family and helping his clients do the same—building not just wealth, but values that endure across generations. His commitment to mentorship extends this philosophy, as he is dedicated to guiding and developing aspiring financial planners. Through mentorship, Tarif ensures that the next generation of financial professionals upholds the same standards of integrity, service, and the pursuit of financial empowerment. Tarif earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the first HBCU Cheyney University and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ designation. He is also a member of the Financial Planning Association, Association for African American Financial Advisors and a VITA Volunteer who helps income tax payers accurately prepare and file taxes

Kathleen Baltra is a financial advisor at Bancroft Capital, LLC with 19 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Bancroft Capital since 2018. Her prior experience includes roles at CM Advisory, LLC and CFG Capital Markets, LLC. Bancroft Capital provides investment advisory and retirement plan services mainly to institutional and plan clients such as pension and profit-sharing plans, banks, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm focuses on ERISA-related retirement consulting and financial planning, emphasizing long-term strategies and portfolio diversification.

Vivek Sharma is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license with 12 years of industry experience. He is the founder and principal of Connotia, LLC, a pharmaceutical consulting firm specializing in strategic and scientific analysis for pharmaceutical projects. He is currently affiliated with Gwynedd Wealth Partners, LLC. Gwynedd Wealth Partners provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and high net worth clients through discretionary managed accounts and written financial plans. The firm’s investment approach focuses on aligning asset allocation with client risk tolerance and time horizon, employing various strategies including asset-allocation models and technical analysis.

Gary Dolbashian is a ChFC® with 13 years of experience in financial advising. He has been with Arnold Investment Group LLC since 2011. The firm provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations. Arnold Investment Group focuses on a small client base, offering tailored asset allocation and investment strategies primarily involving U.S.-domiciled stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and fixed-income instruments.

Ella Gillespie is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Pegasus Management Services L.L.C. in King of Prussia, PA, with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Pegasus, she worked briefly at Wells Fargo Advisors and has been a student since 2016. Pegasus Management Services offers discretionary and non-discretionary asset management, comprehensive financial planning, and ERISA retirement plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm provides individualized investment programs based on client goals and risk tolerance and also conducts public seminars and workshops on investment topics.

Most financial advisors will tell you what to do with your money. I'd rather show you why—and make sure the strategy actually fits the way you live, earn, and spend. I'm Ryan Greiser, CFP® and co-founder of Opulus, a fee-only RIA based in Doylestown, PA. My co-founder Fran Walsh and I built Opulus for high-income millennials who have outgrown generic advice: the engineer with a complicated equity package, the physician juggling student loans and a growing income, the couple who finally hit their number but still feel financially exposed. These aren't people who need a lecture on compound interest. They need someone who can work through the details, cut through the noise, and tell them what actually matters. My planning work is built around four things: reducing what you pay in taxes, managing income that doesn't follow a straight line, growing wealth without taking on unnecessary risk, and structuring your finances so they support the life you're building—not the one someone else assumed you'd want. I specialize in equity compensation, tax-first planning, and investment management. If your situation has moving parts, that's where I do my best work. Opulus is a two-person firm by design. You work with me and Fran—not a rotating cast of junior advisors. We're independent, fee-only, and have no incentive to sell you anything. Every recommendation exists because it's aligned with you.

Christine Messmer is a CFP® professional with 23 years of experience in financial planning and investment advisory services. She has led her own firm, Christine Messmer, P.C., since 2003. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning and investment advisory services to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as small business owners, focusing on cash management, retirement, tax, and estate planning. Christine Messmer, P.C. develops tailored investment policies and pursues long-term purchase strategies using third-party research and proprietary planning software. The firm primarily manages portfolios on a non-discretionary basis, providing clients with regular updates through quarterly meetings and detailed reporting via a secure client portal.

James Detwiler is a financial advisor at Barnstone Advisors LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been involved with Barnstone Partners, LP since 2002 in a non-investment real estate partnership role focused on tax and liability matters. Barnstone Advisors provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, managing approximately $241 million in assets for about 90 clients. The firm tailors portfolios based on client-specific factors and employs a variety of analytical methods and investment instruments.

Susan Gress is a financial advisor at Bancroft Capital, LLC with 41 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Bancroft Capital since 2018. Her prior experience includes roles at CM Advisory, LLC and CFG Capital Markets, LLC. Bancroft Capital provides investment advisory and retirement plan services primarily to institutional and plan clients, including pension and profit-sharing plans, banks, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. The firm offers ERISA-focused retirement consulting under both 3(21) and 3(38) arrangements, emphasizing long-term strategies and portfolio diversification aligned with client objectives.

Mario Martinelli is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently with VaMa Oak Wealth, LLC and has previous experience at Bank of America, Merrill, and Lincoln Financial Distributors. VaMa Oak Wealth serves individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and corporate entities with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm applies a multi-faceted investment process combining fundamental, quantitative, and technical analysis with varied asset-allocation strategies, managing portfolios that include equities, fixed income, alternatives, and options where appropriate.

Michael Natale is a ChFC® credentialed financial advisor with 40 years of industry experience. He has worked at Foundation Capital Management, Inc. since 1993 and has held roles at Securities Service Network, Inc., Securities America, Inc., and Osaic Wealth, Inc. He is also involved as a partner and independent contractor with Foundation Capital Management, LLC, where he engages in financial planning and fixed insurance sales. Foundation Capital Management serves individual investors, including many high-net-worth and accredited clients, as well as trusts, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning and portfolio management using an active, model-driven investment approach across traditional and specialist sectors, delivering both discretionary and buy-and-hold strategies.

Jean Pierre Bouvel is a financial advisor with Bouvel Investment Partners, LLC in Phoenixville, PA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Bouvel Investment Partners since 2009. Outside of his advisory role, he is co-owner of an office building in Phoenixville, which he manages on a limited basis. Bouvel Investment Partners serves individual and high-net-worth clients, including related trusts and estates, providing discretionary and non-discretionary investment management along with financial planning and consulting. The firm employs a range of defined investment strategies tailored to client objectives and manages variable annuity subaccounts and CollegeAmerica 529 platform accounts.

Christopher Torzone is a financial advisor at Christine Messmer, P.C. with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes positions at Pennsylvania State University and local schools in the Collegeville, PA area. Christine Messmer, P.C. provides financial planning and investment advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small business owners. The firm offers tailored investment policies and primarily manages portfolios on a non-discretionary basis, using third-party research and proprietary planning software to support client interactions and reporting.

Mark Vandenburg is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He currently works at Prepared Retirement Institute LLC and previously spent 11 years at The Vanguard Group, Inc. In addition to his advisory role, he develops and provides webinars to clients through The Goddard School in Collegeville, PA. Prepared Retirement Institute LLC provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily to individual and select corporate clients. The firm uses a tailored investment approach that includes fundamental analysis, long-term strategies, and third-party technology to manage held-away retirement accounts.

Kevin Mcgarry is a financial advisor with Valley Financial Group in Ambler, PA, holding Series 63 and 66 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments and H. Beck, Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he volunteers as a basketball coach for St. Anthony's. Valley Financial Group provides investment management and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, families, trusts, charitable organizations, businesses, and pension plans. The firm manages approximately $287 million in assets using a top-down, evidence-based investment approach and offers discretionary portfolio management with access to Fidelity custody and online reporting tools.

Jeffrey Biernat is a financial advisor with Gwynedd Wealth Partners, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. He has been with Gwynedd Wealth Partners since 2012. Outside of his advisory role, he is licensed to sell life insurance and fixed annuities as an independent agent. Gwynedd Wealth Partners provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and high net worth clients, focusing on discretionary managed accounts and tailored investment strategies. The firm emphasizes asset allocation aligned with client risk tolerance and time horizon, employing various investment techniques and conducting quarterly account reviews.

Jason Vavra is a financial advisor at VCM Wealth with 21 years of industry experience. He holds the PFS™ and Series 66 designations and has been with Vavra Capital Management, LLC since 2007. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a volunteer member of the Investment Committee for the Bloomsburg University Foundation. VCM Wealth advises individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutional and nonprofit entities, managing approximately $88.8 million across about 260 client relationships. The firm uses a combination of fundamental, technical, and cyclical analysis alongside systematic asset allocation, implementing portfolios through proprietary ETF models and conducting regular account reviews.

Erik Schuster is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently serving at Proper Financial, LLC since 2024. His prior experience includes roles at Thrive Financial Services, Thrive Insurance Group, Thrive Capital Management, and THE Vanguard Group. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales through Proper Retirement, LLC and participates in raising capital for real estate investments and joint ventures. Proper Financial, LLC is a small registered investment adviser managing approximately $65 million for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm offers wealth management, discretionary portfolio management, and financial planning, operating as a fiduciary with a focus on fundamental analysis and diversified portfolios primarily composed of low-cost mutual funds and ETFs.

Ryan Kirk is a CFA® charterholder and holds the Series 66 designation, with 17 years of experience in the financial industry. He is the principal of The Investment Lab, LLC in Fort Washington, PA, where he has worked since 2018. Kirk has prior experience with Mass Mutual Investors Services and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. He also maintains a role as an Investment Advisor Representative and Portfolio Manager at NewSquare Capital, LLC. The Investment Lab, LLC develops and licenses model portfolios focused on U.S. equities, offering growth and dividend strategies built with stocks and ETFs. The firm uses a rules-based process centered on Relative Strength technical analysis combined with fundamental screening, primarily serving affiliate accounts through a unique model-licensing arrangement with another registered adviser.