James Ross is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with eight years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Axa Advisors LLC and Manchester Capital Management. Outside his advisory work, he serves as an administrator or executor of estates and trustee of trusts for family and non-family members. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients. The firm delivers its services through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives using a combination of firm-offered programs and third-party asset managers.

Peter Gregory is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. He holds the Series 66 designation and has 18 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Raymond James in 2026, he worked at City National Bank and RBC Capital Markets LLC. Gregory serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations, including Sunnyview Hospital Foundation and Schenectady County Community College Foundation, and participates in the finance committee of St. Mary's Catholic Church. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using risk profiling and analytical tools, and supports clients through advisory programs and institutional consulting.

John Conaway is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Albany, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 26 years of industry experience. He has been with LPL Financial since 2011. Outside of his advisory role, he co-owns Pure Cleaning Services LLC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, banks, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a variety of advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services while providing discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by in-house and third-party research.

Susan Brown is a Series 66-registered financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Albany, NY, bringing 19 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS Financial Services Inc. since 2009. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and utilizes proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client solutions.

Shilin Yin, CFP®, is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. She began her career as a Financial Advisor Associate at Morgan Stanley and joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2013. Supported by a team of specialists from Merrill and Bank of America in investments, estate planning services, philanthropy, and lending, she focuses on helping clients grow and preserve their wealth through challenging economic and market cycles and major life events. As a qualified Portfolio Manager, Shilin follows a disciplined and sustainable process emphasizing prudent risk management, long-term growth, tax efficiency, and transparency. She offers qualified investors alternative investments such as private equity and real assets to enhance portfolio diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds. Shilin is a native Mandarin Chinese speaker and holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP®), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®), Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA®), and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC™) designations. She is a graduate of Temple University and holds an MBA in International Business from California State University. Shilin and her husband, Brett, live in Mariaville, NY. She is a member of the Investment & Wealth Institute™ and a member of the Bank of America Upstate New York Diversity & Inclusion Council. Her personal interests include cooking, hiking, and traveling.

Lisa O'Connor serves as a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where she partners with clients to develop personalized financial strategies tailored to their long-term goals. She specializes in managing wealth through a comprehensive approach that involves understanding clients' financial situations and priorities, then crafting flexible strategies that adapt to changing needs and market conditions. Lisa leverages the investment insights of Merrill and the banking solutions of Bank of America to address various facets of clients' financial lives. Her expertise centers on guiding clients through significant financial milestones, including divorce transition planning, personal retirement planning, and retirement income. She is committed to supporting both pre-retirees and retirees through customized planning processes covering wealth accumulation, retirement income, wealth preservation, and intergenerational wealth transfer. Lisa holds professional designations including CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER (CFP), CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). She earned her Bachelor's degree from Siena College. Outside of her professional role, Lisa participates in community activities such as Hope in the Boat, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team, and is affiliated with the Galway Lake Campers Association. Her personal interests include antiquing, biking, boating, and gardening.

Kate Curcio is a financial advisor at RBC Capital Markets in Albany, NY, with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has been with RBC Capital Markets since 2014. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers various advisory programs featuring portfolio management, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing a combination of in-house and third-party investment managers to tailor strategies to clients’ risk profiles.

Joseph Gravini is a CFP® with 26 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wells Fargo Clearing since 2019. His prior experience includes roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Outside of his advisory work, he officiates high school basketball games and serves as Chair of the Finance Committee for the Albany Symphony Orchestra. Wells Fargo Clearing provides retirement plan consulting services to qualified ERISA and non-qualified deferred compensation plans, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary solutions. The firm’s advisory process is IPS-driven, grounded in modern portfolio theory, and includes a broader set of financial products such as insurance-related vehicles and bank deposit sweep options.

Kelly Chavez Laprade is a financial advisor at J.P. Morgan Securities with five years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Merrill, Bank of America, Citizens Securities, TD Bank, and JPMorgan Chase Bank. Early in her career, she held positions outside finance at companies such as Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Enterprise Rent A Car. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC provides investment consulting and advisory services primarily to institutional clients and retirement plan sponsors, focusing on asset-allocation advice, investment manager searches, and customized performance reporting through its Institutional Consulting Services program.

Dianne Funigiello is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Albany, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 25 years of industry experience. Her prior positions include roles at Merrill Lynch, Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, Key Private Bank, HSBC Securities, Wells Fargo Clearing, J.P. Morgan Securities, Chase Investment Services, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup Global Markets. She is a partial owner of an LLC established for personal estate planning purposes. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through a combination of brokerage and investment advisory offerings, utilizing proprietary research and model-based asset allocation to tailor plans according to clients’ goals and risk tolerances. The firm combines wealth management services with institutional trading capabilities and offers a broad range of capital markets services.

Jonathan Turnock is a financial advisor at Merrill with nine years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has worked at Bank of America and Merrill since 2015. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as a board member for the Niskayuna Soccer Club, where he helps organize teams and plan soccer activities. 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 a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Shireen Kafiluddi is a financial advisor with Merrill, holding a Series 66 designation and 10 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2015 and also worked at Bank of America, N.A. from 2022 to the present. 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 serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations with model-based and discretionary investment strategies.

Christine Ormsbee is a financial advisor at Merrill with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Merrill since 2018, previously spending six years at LPL Financial. She serves as a board member for the Shellstrong Foundation, a charitable organization supporting children and families receiving treatment at Albany Med and related programs. 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, offering a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Andrea Scott is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Clifton Park, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and six years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica Advisors and Primerica Financial Services since 2019. Outside of her advisory role, she works as a self-employed IRS tax professional. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, offering model-delivery strategies and a limited number of discretionary separately managed accounts to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on a tiered wrap-fee structure and curates third-party asset managers to implement various investment models.

Brian Hooks is a Series 66-credentialed financial advisor with LPL Financial, based in Cohoes, NY, and has seven years of industry experience. He has worked at LPL Financial since 2019 and has been associated with Broadview Federal Credit Union since 2011. Outside of his advisory work, Hooks serves as the head coach of the basketball team at Shaker High School. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory programs, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party research, and various management options.

Melissa Taylor is a CFP® with 24 years of industry experience and has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2015. She holds the Series 66 designation and is based in Latham, NY. Raymond James & Associates is a large dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a wide range of clients, including individuals, institutional investors, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and municipal advisory services.

William Vanevera is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services and holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials. He has 48 years of industry experience and has been with Mass Mutual Investors Services and MassMutual Life Insurance Company since 2001. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in individual and group life and health insurance sales. MassMutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, focusing on collaborative, annual planning relationships that use firm-approved analytic tools.

Michael Wheeler is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He follows a disciplined process that begins with taking the time to understand clients, their families, financial situations, and what matters most to them. This approach reflects his belief that advising is not just about markets and returns, but about aligning financial planning with clients' life priorities. Michael’s areas of expertise include managing new wealth, personal retirement planning, portfolio management services, individual and corporate investment strategy, tax minimization, and retirement income. He holds several professional designations, including CERTIFIED PLAN FIDUCIARY ADVISOR (CPFA), Personal Investment Advisor (PIA), and Retirement Accredited Financial Advisor (RAFA). Michael earned a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Rochester. He emphasizes collaboration with clients to create personalized plans tailored to their goals and aspirations.

Zachary Haggas is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, where he leads the H Group. Since joining Merrill Lynch in 2012, he has developed strategies for high-net-worth individuals, their families, and businesses to help them pursue their short- and long-term financial goals. Prior to his current role, Zach gained experience in marketing, sales, and financial education in various wealth management firms before building his own team. He also serves as a member of Merrill's Council of Technology Champions, a divisional speaker, national trainer, and head of the training program for the New York Capital Central Complex. Zach's work involves thorough analysis of clients' assets, including company savings plans, IRAs, Roth accounts, pensions, employee benefits, and brokerage accounts, as well as cash management, spending, and goal structuring. He offers services such as tax minimization strategies and assists clients with estate planning in collaboration with legal advisors. His expertise spans areas such as pre-retirement financial analysis, transition and severance planning, retirement income planning, estate planning strategies, and insurance and long-term care strategies. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Raised in Whitesboro, New York, Zach graduated from Siena College with a bachelor's degree in finance. He is a member of the Fort Orange Club and participates in community organizations including the Charity Motor Club formerly Mohawk Valley Lunch Club, the Saratoga Automobile Museum, and The Prevention Council of Saratoga County. Zach resides in Albany, New York, and in his free time, enjoys reading, writing, spending time with family, and maintaining a focus on healthy living.

Neil O'Brien is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 34 years of industry experience. He joined LPL Financial in 2025 after 26 years at NEXT Financial Group, Inc. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved with a non-variable insurance business and operates Capital Asset Management, Inc. for tax and investment purposes. LPL Financial is a national SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, financial institutions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides a range of advisory programs, financial planning services, and access to model portfolios and research from both internal and third-party sources.