James Jones III is a financial advisor at Sovran Advisors, LLC with 22 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Mass Mutual Investors Services and MetLife Securities. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Jampsen Corp, a private financial services business not held out to the public. Sovran Advisors provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual, high-net-worth, charitable, corporate, and retirement plan clients. The firm manages approximately $1.78 billion in client assets through a team of 53 advisors, offering customizable portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, and advisory variable annuity management.

Erika Lopez is a financial advisor at Root Financial Partners with two years of industry experience. She holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Reyes Financial Architecture and McAdam Financial. Outside of finance, she has experience working with several local businesses in the hospitality and craft sectors. Root Financial Partners provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, trusts, estates, and small businesses. The firm emphasizes broadly diversified, passive investment strategies tailored to client objectives and also offers educational programs and online academies separate from its advisory services.

Adam Sevier is a financial advisor with Simplicity Wealth in San Diego, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Cetera Wealth Services, Avantax, and ATS Advanced Trustee Strategies Inc. Outside of his advisory work, he assists with client services and client analysis at ATS Advanced Trustee Strategies Inc. Simplicity Wealth serves a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, corporate and institutional clients, and other financial firms. The firm employs a fund-of-funds approach using ETFs, mutual funds, and individual securities, offering advisory services alongside technology and operational support for advisers through a managed account platform.

Xavier Mendoza Jr. is a financial advisor at Octavia Wealth Advisors LLC with 16 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked with firms including Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments Inc. and Equitable Advisors. In addition to advisory services, he is active as an insurance agent with Octavia Risk Management LLC. Octavia Wealth Advisors is an SEC-registered multi-team firm managing approximately $2.15 billion for individuals, high-net-worth clients, institutions, and public entities. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and retirement plan advisory services, employing customized portfolios that combine low-cost ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, and alternative investments.

Donald Van Dyke is a financial advisor with Sovran Advisors, LLC in San Diego, CA, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 66 licenses, with 26 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Mass Mutual Investors Services, MetLife Securities Inc., and Cetera Wealth Services, LLC. Outside of his advisory work, Van Dyke is an owner of an online health and wellness products business and teaches karate classes through the Chula Vista Parks and Recreation program. Sovran Advisors serves individuals, corporations, and retirement plan sponsors with financial planning and portfolio management, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies across multiple program types. The firm employs a combination of active and passive investment exposures, working with written investment policy statements and leveraging internal and third-party portfolio models.

Albert Shapiro is a financial advisor with PFG Advisors in El Cajon, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and six years of industry experience. His career includes roles at United Planners, SECURITIES AMERICA, and MassMutual, among others. He is also active as a financial advisor with MyPoint Credit Union. PFG Advisors provides fee-based investment advisory services to a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, trusts, and financial institutions. The firm’s investment approach incorporates model portfolios and third-party managers, utilizing macro allocation strategies with index-based ETFs and regular portfolio monitoring.

Juan Carlos Moreno is a financial advisor with Snowden Capital Advisors LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 20 years of industry experience. He has been with Snowden Lane Partners since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Moreno owns El Corridor Group, a business providing corn husk materials for restaurant use. Snowden Capital Advisors serves high-net-worth individuals, family offices, foundations, pension plans, endowments, and other institutional clients. The firm offers discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, investment consulting, and financial and estate planning, utilizing a range of investment tools and third-party managers while maintaining client oversight.

Denise Kamel is a financial advisor at Navy Federal Investment Services, LLC with 12 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network and CUSO Financial Services, LP. Denise is based in San Diego, CA. Navy Federal Investment Services serves members of Navy Federal Credit Union as well as individual, trust, and institutional clients, offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement-plan fiduciary services, and automated investment options. The firm primarily uses managed advisory programs with third-party portfolio managers and supports layered solutions including unified managed accounts and automated ETF portfolios.

Scott Schechter is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) in San Diego, CA, holding CFP® and ChFC® designations with 24 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with New York Life and its related entities since 2002. Outside of his advisory role, Schechter serves on the board of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties and volunteers with Amplified Impact Partners, a nonprofit that provides strategic consulting services to other nonprofit organizations. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm provides tailored advice through multiple program types and manages a majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Jonah Shafer is a CFP® professional with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in San Diego, CA. His prior experience includes roles at Prosperity Wealth Planning, Raymond James, and Ameriprise Financial. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, employing globally diversified portfolios with multi-factor tilts and implementing a range of strategies including low-cost ETFs, separate account managers, and private funds.

Dennis Bavin is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds the Series 66 designation. He has 15 years of industry experience and has worked with firms including Park Avenue Securities and MassMutual Life Insurance Company. Outside of his advisory work, he is also active as an outside insurance broker. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. The firm offers brokerage and advisory services to individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporations, utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment strategies.

Thomas Alford is a CFA® charterholder with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving at Independent Financial Partners. His prior work includes roles at OSAIC, Triad Advisors, and Resources Investment Advisors. Outside of his advisory work, he operates a non-investment related business under the name Trailhead Financial. Independent Financial Partners provides investment advisory, financial planning, trust, and retirement-plan services through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm supports a multi-advisor platform serving individual, charitable, corporate, and high-net-worth clients, offering both decentralized investment strategies and formal retirement-plan advisory services.

Randy Goodsell is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Independent Financial Group since 2011 and has led Goodsell & Company CPA, a tax preparation and accounting firm, since 1996. Outside of advisory services, he is a co-owner of Goodsell & Company CPAs, providing tax, audit, and consulting services to individuals and businesses. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and corporate plans. The firm employs both firm- and third-party investment models and combines passive and active strategies across various risk profiles.

Ethan Willis is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 19 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including Merrill, Morgan Stanley, Valic Financial Advisors, and HSBC Securities before joining Citigroup in 2014. Outside of his advisory role, Willis serves as the head coach of the La Jolla High School rugby team. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across multiple wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm employs multi-asset, multi-manager strategies with an emphasis on internal standards and oversight, combining large institutional scale with unique market roles and arrangements.

Jason Giorgio is a CFP® professional with 29 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Primerica Advisors and Park Avenue Securities. He has worked with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 2008 and engages in selling life insurance products from selected carriers to meet client needs. Park Avenue Securities serves a diverse retail client base, offering brokerage and advisory services, financial planning, and business consulting. The firm employs a combination of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and supports a range of account-level services, including lending solutions and donor-advised funds.

David Keely is a CFP® professional affiliated with Valic Financial Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. He has held advisory roles at Valic Financial Advisors since 2017, previously working at Agia, CUSO Financial Services, LP, and Edward Jones. Outside of his advisory work, Keely serves as chairperson of a 501(c)(3) organization supporting a local Boy Scout troop’s charter. Valic Financial Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer serving U.S. individuals, including high net worth clients, and employer-sponsored retirement participants. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and discretionary unified managed accounts through a large network of advisors using centralized technology and model solutions.

Kevin Tostado is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (New York Life) in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with four years of industry experience. He has worked with Eagle Strategies since 2024 and has been affiliated with NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life Insurance Company since 2023. Outside of finance, he owns Tostie Productions, LLC, through which he has produced and directed multiple motion pictures, and he volunteers with the Community Emergency Response Team in San Diego. He also serves on local community boards, including the San Carlos Area Council and the Our Lady of Grace Catholic School Parent Teacher Group. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services primarily on a non-discretionary basis. The firm emphasizes tailored advice and operates within the New York Life affiliate structure, offering various program types including fee-based advice, retirement plan consulting, and advisory services linked to insurance and annuity products.

Vernon Eberly is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience, currently serving at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. He previously worked for HoyleCohen, LLC from 2014 to 2024 and joined The Colony Group, LLC in 2024. Focus Partners serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with wealth management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Kevin Carlin is a financial advisor at Commonwealth Financial Network with 15 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at Commonwealth since 2017, following five years at LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory role, Carlin is involved as a staff member at Optimal Nutritionals, a nutritional supplement business, and is the owner and designer of Trail Comfort, an online apparel company on Etsy. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors and managing roughly $213 billion in client assets. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and a range of investment options supported by discretionary and nondiscretionary portfolio management.

Nathan Parker is a CFA® charterholder with 15 years of industry experience. He has been with Commonwealth Financial Network in San Diego, CA since 2013. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving a national network of approximately 2,900 affiliated advisors and their individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad adviser-support platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody and clearing services.