Scott Salaske is a financial advisor at FirstMetric, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been with FirstMetric since 2017. Prior to this, he took a planned break from the industry between 2015 and 2017. FirstMetric serves individuals, trusts, foundations, estates, business entities, qualified retirement plans, and charitable organizations by providing discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management alongside financial planning and legacy securities transition guidance. The firm employs a passive, asset-class investment approach using low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs, emphasizing long-term, buy-and-hold strategies with integrated tax-aware practices.

Peter Labrash is a financial advisor at Paragon Retirement Planning, Inc. in Troy, MI, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at MML Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance, Prudential Financial Planning Services, and other firms. Paragon Retirement Planning serves individual and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive and single-issue financial planning, generally requiring a $100,000 account minimum. The firm emphasizes suitable asset allocation through model portfolio strategies managed by unaffiliated sub-advisors and third-party investment advisers while retaining responsibility for client relationships and reviews.

Chelsei Latsch is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Antonelli Financial Advisors, LLC since 2017. Her prior work includes a role at Comerica Bank and experience in the hospitality sector at Texas Roadhouse. Antonelli Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing fee-based investment management and various financial planning services. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory approach to build globally diversified portfolios and typically manages client accounts on a discretionary basis.

ABOUT THRIVE RETIREMENT SPECIALISTS Standing out in our industry's “sea of sameness” and b#llsh!t, we introduce a new business model that applies the latest retirement research to deliver “reality-based” retirement planning, representing an evolutionary step forward in how people prepare for and thrive during retirement. We arm you with a framework to make better decisions based on your unique circumstances, enabling you to avoid unnecessary sacrifices symptomatic of following conventional “rules of thumb” intended for the masses. The result is living a more rewarding life optimized for contentment. ThriveRetire is an all-in-one, flat-fee service that includes: • Retirement Planning • Tax Planning • Investment Management • And more! ABOUT ANTHONY WATSON, CFA, CFP®, RICP® Prior to founding Thrive Retirement Specialists, Tony served as a Chief Investment Officer, providing advice and investment management services to over 600 individuals representing over $1.5 billion of investments. Before this, Tony served as Vice President at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where he advised high- and ultra-high net worth individuals on all matters of wealth, including investments, portfolio construction, portfolio management, and retirement planning. EDUCATION: • BBA of Finance, Walsh College • MBA, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business CREDENTIALS: • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) • CERTIFIED FINANICAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) • Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)

Mark Romin is a CFP® professional at Lakeshore Financial Planning Inc. in Saint Clair Shores, MI, with 18 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Brayton Asset Management and Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. Romin contributes to social media input for a non-investment-related support company affiliated with his firm. Lakeshore Financial Planning Inc. manages discretionary portfolios and provides incidental financial planning to individuals, charitable organizations, and investment clubs. The firm employs client-specific strategies using proprietary model portfolios diversified across asset classes, primarily via mutual funds and ETFs, and manages approximately $469 million in discretionary assets.

Kelly L'esperance is a financial advisor at Barking Sands Capital with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has led The L'esperance Group, LLC since 2011. L'esperance is also licensed as an insurance agent in Michigan and Minnesota, dedicating part of her time to this activity. Barking Sands Capital provides personalized, fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages primarily discretionary assets using a core-equity strategy supplemented by dividend-paying equities, bonds, ETFs, and third-party managers when appropriate.

James L'esperance is a financial advisor at Barking Sands Capital in Troy, MI, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, with 19 years of industry experience. He has operated The L'esperance Group, LLC since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in a licensed insurance agency selling and servicing fixed insurance products such as life insurance and annuities. Barking Sands Capital provides personalized, fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a core-equity strategy combined with diversified options and uses third-party managers when appropriate, managing approximately $45 million in primarily discretionary assets for about 85 clients.

Ryan Knaack is a financial advisor at Wealthy Intentions with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Rocket Companies, FCA USA, Conifer Insurance, Sun Communities, and BDO USA. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a Senior External Reporting Analyst at Rocket Companies, focusing on SEC filings. Wealthy Intentions provides investment management, comprehensive financial and business planning, and tax preparation services primarily to individual clients. The firm uses a passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, combining diversified portfolios of index mutual funds and ETFs with fundamental and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios to clients’ risk and investment objectives.

Walter Maziarz is a financial advisor with Trinity Wealth Solutions LLC in Sterling Heights, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 28 years of industry experience. He has owned and operated multiple related businesses focused on financial services and tax planning since the mid-1990s. Maziarz also serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations that promote Polish culture and investment opportunities in the Detroit area. Trinity Wealth Solutions is a state-registered independent advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers wealth management, retirement and estate planning, comprehensive financial planning, and income tax planning and preparation, utilizing a combination of TAMP-managed strategies and direct securities tailored through a proprietary asset-allocation model.

Jonathan Carender is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently working at Paragon Investing, LLC since 2020. Prior to joining Paragon, he worked at Scio Software and TKS Industrial Company. Paragon Investing provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, businesses, and other investment advisers. The firm’s investment approach focuses on customized asset allocation using fundamental and technical analysis, ETF and mutual fund selection, and a range of strategies aimed at preserving purchasing power over the long term.

Richard Davenport is a financial advisor at Lakeshore Financial Planning Inc. in Saint Clair Shores, MI, with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and Raymond James Financial Advisors, Inc. for a combined 19 years before joining Lakeshore Financial Planning in 2018. Lakeshore Financial Planning provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, and an investment club. The firm uses diversified model portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds and ETFs, employing both fundamental and technical analysis, and offers tailored advisory relationships with discretionary trading authority.

Gerald Dehondt is a CFA® charterholder with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at SS&H Financial Advisors, Inc. since 2019 and previously spent 15 years at Jerrmar Capital Management, Inc. He holds a Series 63 license. SS&H Financial Advisors, Inc. is an independently owned SEC-registered investment adviser that serves individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and foundations, generally with at least $350,000 available for investment. The firm focuses on realistic investment objectives and risk management, utilizing fundamental and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios on a primarily discretionary basis.

Robert Rahaim is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with DWP. He has worked at DeSeranno Corp. since 2003. DWP provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs fundamental and cyclical analysis with a range of investment strategies and manages approximately $195.1 million in discretionary assets through a four-advisor team.

Deanna Harless is a Certified Financial Planner® with 16 years of industry experience. She is currently with Bernard Wealth Management Corp., where she has worked since 2018, including a brief tenure at Creative Planning, LLC. Her background also includes experience at Securities America Inc. Bernard Wealth Management serves individuals, businesses, corporate retirement plans, and charitable organizations through discretionary portfolio management and financial planning. The firm manages approximately $314 million in client assets, employing model portfolios that combine mutual funds, ETFs, and selected individual stocks, with investment strategies tailored to client risk tolerance and life changes.

Antashe Howard is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor at Nubian Square Investment Advisors, LLC with four years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Mariner Wealth Advisors and Eaton Vance Investment Counsel. Outside of advising, he is an agent for a life insurance business. Nubian Square Investment Advisors serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and charitable organizations by providing investment management and financial planning services. The firm employs a combination of in-house and third-party portfolio management strategies, emphasizing long-term orientation while incorporating alternative approaches when appropriate, and maintains a formal impact investing due-diligence practice.

Joseph Elias is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Wealthy Intentions in Sterling Heights, MI, bringing three years of industry experience. He has worked at Rocket Mortgage since 2015. Wealthy Intentions is a small independent advisory firm that serves individual clients with investment management, financial and business planning, and tax preparation services. The firm uses a passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, tailoring diversified portfolios with index funds and ETFs according to each client’s risk objectives.

Daniel Stavale is a financial advisor with Paragon Retirement Planning, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 16 years of industry experience. He is also the president of College Planning Solutions, LLC, which assists college-bound students in finding suitable colleges and securing scholarships. Additionally, Stavale works as an independent insurance agent offering various insurance products, including fixed index annuities. Paragon Retirement Planning serves individual and high-net-worth clients, providing comprehensive and single-issue financial planning and consulting with a typical account minimum of $100,000. The firm employs a model portfolio approach, allocating assets among third-party sub-advisors while maintaining client relationships and overseeing portfolio reviews.

Douglas Cook is a financial advisor at M1 Capital Management LLC with 14 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Fidelity and Charles Schwab. Outside of his advisory role, he is a principal real estate investor through CGT Enterprises. M1 Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning primarily for high net worth individuals, as well as pension plans, charities, and businesses. The firm employs a tactical asset allocation strategy implemented mainly through ETFs and incorporates fixed-income diversification, options strategies, and tax and cash-flow considerations into customized client portfolios.

Kenneth Bernard is a CFA® charterholder with 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Bernard Wealth Management Corp. for 15 years. In addition to his advisory role, he is licensed to recommend life insurance products in Michigan and is appointed with Jackson National Life and Brighthouse Financial. Bernard Wealth Management serves individuals, businesses, corporate retirement plans, and charitable organizations by providing discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services. The firm manages approximately $314 million in client assets using model portfolios that combine mutual funds, ETFs, and selected individual stocks based on quantitative and fundamental analysis.

Richard Aubuchon is a financial advisor with FSA Advisors, Inc. in Troy, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Hantz Group and various non-financial firms such as Great Oaks Country Club and Top Golf. Outside of advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales. FSA Advisors provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm emphasizes fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory in its investment approach, offering discretionary management and tailored asset allocations across multiple asset classes.