Richard Niekrash Jr. is a CFP® and Series 66 registered advisor with 21 years of industry experience. He has worked at Benjamin F. Edwards & Company, Inc. since 2011 and previously held positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company is an integrated broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients through more than 500 advisors. The firm offers a range of services including advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, investment management consulting, brokerage services, insurance products, and M&A advisory services.

Mary Pucciarelli is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 41 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Reilly Financial Group, Mass Mutual Investors Services, MASSMUTUAL Life Insurance Company, and METLIFE Securities Inc. She also engages in fixed insurance sales as a secondary business activity. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and hundreds of thousands of clients nationwide. The firm provides a comprehensive adviser-support platform, including managed-account programs and access to third-party asset managers, while acting as a wrap-fee program sponsor and back-office provider.

Boureima Diallo is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving at Transamerica Financial Advisors. He has a long-standing association with United Financial Services and the Transamerica Agency Network, where he has been involved in recruiting, training, and business development since 2002. Diallo also engages in the sales of insurance and non-insurance products for companies affiliated with Transamerica Financial Advisors. Transamerica Financial Advisors, LLC provides investment advisory, brokerage, and retirement-plan services to a diverse client base, including individuals, employer-sponsored plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a model portfolio approach supported by third-party managers and digital platforms, serving clients through an extensive advisor network.

Larry Daniels III is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with six years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked previously with Encompass More Asset Management LLC and Verity Asset Management. Outside of his advisory role, he is an attorney specializing in real estate law and serves as New York Market President for C-Suite for Christ, an organization focused on Christian business practices. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered approach combining internally managed and third-party models, discretionary asset management, and financial planning services.

Kelsey Bornstein Murphy is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and one year of industry experience. She has prior experience with Park Avenue Securities and Paychex, and spent over a decade at Optimum Health Exercise Therapy. Murphy serves as president and board member of BNI First Class NJ, a non-investment-related networking group. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, businesses, and charitable organizations, offering a range of financial planning, consulting, and investment solutions tailored by its network of advisors.

William Blanco is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Red Bank, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 37 years of industry experience. He has worked with Equity Services since 2009 and previously held positions at National Life Group, Chase Investment Services Corp., and Merrill. Blanco is also involved in health insurance and elder care-related activities, including roles with United Health Care, PGP Benefits, and the Orion Resource Group. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms, often utilizing third-party asset managers and model portfolios, and services a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary client assets.

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.

Kevin Pent is a financial advisor at Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at National Life Group, Royal Alliance Associates, Signator Investors Inc., Park Avenue Securities, and Guardian Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory role, he has served as Past Exalted Ruler for the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks in Keyport, NJ, where he volunteers and advises on organizational procedures, and he provides coaching on special needs funding to assist families with planning. Equity Services, Inc. offers financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm operates as both a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser, utilizing multiple advisory platforms and third-party asset managers to deliver predominantly long-term investment strategies alongside options for shorter-term trading.

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.

Michael Previti is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. in Red Bank, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. He has been with Equity Services since 2016 and also operates Integrated Financial Concepts LLC, where he works as an insurance sales agent and provides employee benefit solutions. Previti serves as president of the Egg Harbor Township Soccer Club, overseeing club activities and board meetings. Equity Services, Inc., also known as ESI Financial Advisors, provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms, often using third-party asset managers and model portfolios, and operates both as a broker-dealer and an SEC-registered investment adviser.

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.

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.

Harrison Maitland Carter is a financial advisor with Equity Services, Inc. (ESI Financial Advisors) in Red Bank, NJ. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. Prior to joining Equity Services, he has worked at Integrated Financial Concepts and Pfizer, Inc., among other roles. Equity Services, Inc. provides financial planning, consulting, and asset management services to individuals, corporations, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employer retirement plans. The firm offers multiple advisory platforms and frequently utilizes third-party asset managers and model portfolios, combining long-term strategies with options for shorter-term trading and specialized instruments.

Daniel Armas is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Carson Wealth and CWM, LLC, where he has worked since 2021, and previously held roles at Vanderbilt Securities, Gitterman Wealth Management, Triad Advisors, and Voya Financial Partners. He serves as a board member for the Embrace Kids Foundation, participating in philanthropy and fundraising activities. CWM, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser operating an enterprise platform with over 650 advisors and approximately $50.6 billion in assets under management. The firm offers discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan services, utilizing an Investment Committee to design and monitor portfolios and providing tailored solutions including custom indexing and alternative investments.

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.