Richard Briggs is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 43 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Merrill (1983–2019), Bank of America, NA (2009–2019), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (2019–present), and City National Bank (2020–present). Outside of his advisory work, he co-owns a summer home in Skaneateles, New York. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutions, pension plans, corporations, and charities. The firm offers various wrap fee advisory programs and tailors investment strategies through a combination of in-house and third-party managers, supported by extensive capital markets capabilities and integrated financial services.

Adam Hedberg is a financial advisor at Edelman Financial Engines with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining the firm, he served ten years with the Buffalo Police Department and worked at NOCO Energy Crop for one year. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines a committee-driven modeling process with planner delivery and online tools, offering diversified model portfolios, discretionary and non-discretionary management, and serves approximately 477,000 clients with a broad range of investment solutions.

Kim Mahoney is a financial advisor with Merrill in Buffalo, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and 18 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill Lynch since 1993, totaling 33 years at the firm. Merrill, along 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 using model-based and discretionary investment strategies developed by internal and third-party managers.

Aaron Rybak is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 11 years of industry experience. He has worked with Cetera and its affiliated entities since 2019 and previously was with Foresters Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he coaches junior varsity football. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a large nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services and operates a multi-manager platform that includes model portfolios, third-party managers, and bespoke strategies.

Matthew Escobar is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Axa Advisors, LLC from 2016 to 2020 before continuing his career at Equitable Advisors. Outside of his advisory role, Escobar is co-founder and President of the Board of Directors for West Side International Soccer, a nonprofit organization where he also coaches and supervises youth soccer coaches. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and various asset-management programs. The firm delivers services through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives using both in-house and third-party investment models.

Sara Dayton is a financial advisor with Cetera, holding a Series 66 designation and 12 years of industry experience. Her work history includes roles at Avantax Advisory Services, 1st Global Capital Corp, and she is a partner at Lumsden & McCormick Financial Services, LLC. Dayton serves as Board Treasurer for the Buffalo-Erie Marathon Association, a nonprofit organization involved in race planning and fundraising. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers various portfolio management and advisory services through a nationwide network of independent advisors and employs a multi-manager platform with multiple program options and custodial relationships.

Jennifer Szumla is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Amherst, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and over 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Primerica since 2005 and also has a longstanding role with Kenmore Mercy Hospital dating back to 1988. Outside of her advisory work, she is involved in managing an estate unrelated to her investment activities and participates part-time in the sale of home security and automation products through affiliated companies. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management via its Lifetime Investment Program, which includes model-delivery strategies and discretionary separately managed accounts primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap fee structure, providing a range of investment models with oversight delegated to BNY Mellon Advisors.

Conor Fitzhenry is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Amherst, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and seven years of industry experience. Prior to joining MassMutual and its affiliated MML Investors Services in 2019, he worked at M&T Bank for three years. He is also licensed as an insurance broker, selling life, long-term care, and fixed annuities. Mass Mutual Investors Services 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, emphasizing annual collaborative planning with firm-approved analytic tools.

Paul D'ostroph III is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and 21 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors since 2004 and previously worked at AXA Advisors. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as an administrator or executor of estates and trusts for clients. Equitable Advisors serves a range of clients including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement consulting, and asset management programs. The firm utilizes third-party asset managers and advisory programs, providing services that include mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and ERISA fiduciary services without sponsoring its own wrap fee program.

Louis Benton II is a financial advisor with LPL Enterprise, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Principal Securities, Citizens Securities Inc., Key Investment Services LLC, and the Department of Labor. Outside of his advisory work, he owns Starin Morris LLC, an LLC registered for holding real estate. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and corporate and charitable entities. The firm’s investment approach is model-driven, utilizing portfolios developed by LPL’s Research Department and third-party strategists, and it offers a range of services including financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and insurance product sales through affiliated entities.

Patricia Wallaitis is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and bringing 23 years of industry experience. She worked at M&T Securities for 18 years and has been associated with M&T Bank for over 30 years. Wallaitis has been with LPL Financial since 2021. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a wide range of advisory and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized investment strategies.

Ryan Donaldson is a financial advisor with Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, holding Series 63 and 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. Prior to joining Cambridge, he worked at Paychex Inc. and has been involved in small business operations including ownership of a landscaping company. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors is an SEC-registered firm serving a diverse client base ranging from individual investors to retirement-plan sponsors. The firm offers financial planning, investment management, and retirement plan advisory services through independent Financial Professionals, utilizing various portfolio management strategies and multiple platform arrangements.

John Jesonowski is a financial advisor with OSAIC who holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 30 years of industry experience. He has worked with several firms including Royal Alliance Associates, Inc. and Royal Financial Group, where he is a partner. Jesonowski also offers life insurance and fixed annuities through multiple fixed carriers. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm provides integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing various investment approaches and third-party platforms to manage portfolios that may include stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.

Joseph Piegay is a financial advisor at OSAIC with five years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at Equitable Advisors and Strategic Financial Solutions. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved with Northeastern Financial Partners LLC and GenX Financial LLC in registered representative and assistant capacities. Osaic Wealth, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual and high-net-worth investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools and third-party platforms to manage portfolios across a wide range of investment types.

Thad Borowiak is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Edelman Financial Engines. His prior roles include positions at United Capital Financial Advisers, LLC and Girard Securities, Inc. He is a board member of the East Aurora Rotary Club, a nonprofit organization. Edelman Financial Engines provides technology-enabled investment advisory and financial planning services to individual investors, retirement-plan participants, and institutional clients. The firm combines committee-driven proprietary modeling with planner delivery and online tools, offering a range of discretionary and non-discretionary investment solutions with an emphasis on diversified portfolios and long-term orientation.

Jennifer York Whitbeck is a financial advisor with Raymond James & Associates in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 30 years of industry experience. She has been with Raymond James & Associates since 2014. Raymond James & Associates, Inc. is a large dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutional and pension plans, and municipal entities, offering financial planning, non-discretionary investment consulting, and municipal advisory services.

Lorraine Carson is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Amherst, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 10 years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at Primerica Financial Services and PFS Investments Inc., along with prior employment at National Fuel Gas. She is involved with Ken-Ton Meals On Wheels since 2023. Primerica Advisors provides discretionary asset management primarily through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-based strategies and selectively managed accounts. The firm uses third-party asset managers and a wrap-fee structure, focusing on curated model portfolios rather than institutional plan management.

Thomas Healy is a financial advisor at LPL Enterprise with 16 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously with Prudential Insurance Company of America and Pruco Securities, LLC. LPL Enterprise provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, banks, and charitable entities. The firm employs a model-driven investment approach and offers financial planning, access to third-party asset managers, and an affiliated insurance agency.

Guy Porter is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Lancaster, NY, holding a Series 66 designation with 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2011. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory strategies, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee programs, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds, operating under a fiduciary standard.

Matthew Kapanek is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Next Financial Group Inc for 18 years before joining LPL Financial in 2025. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in a non-variable insurance business and operates a DBA related to his LPL activities. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers financial planning, model portfolios, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, delivering advice through a network of investment adviser representatives who use a range of strategies and advisor-facing tools.