Melissa Wright is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 16 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Compak Asset Management in Newport Beach, CA, where she has worked since 2021. Her prior experience includes roles at Securities America, Inc. and ALIGN WEALTH ADVISORS. Compak Asset Management provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individuals, retirement plans, and trusts, utilizing model strategies and a combination of fundamental and technical analysis guided by an internal Investment Committee. The firm offers portfolio supervision, standalone financial plans, and access to separately managed accounts and alternative investments.

Xiao Qiu is a financial advisor at American Fundstars with two years of industry experience. They have been with American Fundstars Financial Group LLC since 2024. American Fundstars serves high-net-worth individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients, offering portfolio management and advisory services. The firm employs a flexible investment approach across multiple asset classes and strategies, managing most client assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Matthew Melendez is a CFP® professional with 16 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Capital Synergy Partners since 2014. He also holds an Enrolled Agent credential and operates a tax preparation business, Melendez Company & Associates Inc., as well as a fixed insurance sales business. Capital Synergy Partners serves individual clients across various wealth levels, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and third-party money manager programs. The firm operates with both RIA and broker-dealer registrations, delivering predominantly non-discretionary advice supported by fundamental, technical, and cyclical investment analysis.

John Borcich is a financial advisor at Vanguard Capital with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Vanguard Capital and its affiliated firms since 2009. Vanguard Capital provides discretionary investment management and financial planning to individual and high-net-worth clients, managing approximately $171 million across about 180 client relationships. The firm implements investment decisions based on written client profiles and plans, emphasizing risk management through diversification, rebalancing, and selective use of covered-call strategies.

Ronald Hudspeth is a financial advisor at Yosemite Capital Management with 30 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked previously at Morgan Stanley and Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. Hudspeth joined Yosemite Capital Management in 2019 and is currently part of a seven-advisor team. Yosemite Capital Management is a team-based SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $369 million for about 266 clients. The firm offers customized portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning services, and access to private fund investments, employing a discretionary approach that includes model risk profiles and a formal manager-selection process.

Eric Bell is a financial advisor with Hamilton-Bates Investment Research, Inc. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has 32 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Park Avenue Securities, Guardian Life Insurance, and he has been involved with Bell Insurance Solutions, Inc. for over a decade. Bell serves as president of African Wealth Management, Inc., focusing primarily on marketing to African and African American clients, and he leads a nonprofit working to establish an assisted living facility in Kenya. Hamilton-Bates Investment Research, Inc. advises individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and businesses, managing approximately $61 million in client assets. The firm applies multiple analytic methods and offers discretionary portfolio management and model-based investment programs tailored to client needs.

Cole Ducote is a Series 65-licensed advisor with Apriem Advisors, based in Irvine, CA, and has worked in the financial industry for two years. He has been with Apriem Advisors across two periods, totaling five years, with prior experience at Seek Business Capital and Herc Rentals. Apriem Advisors provides wealth management and customized portfolio services primarily to high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as 501(c)(3) non-profits. The firm employs a mix of tactical and passive investment approaches and offers additional services such as retirement plan advisory, charitable investment services, and an online portfolio consolidation tool.

Erin Nelsen is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. She has been with Asset Planning, Inc. since 2007. Asset Planning, Inc. provides personal financial planning and investment management to individuals, families, trusts, estates, and family businesses. The firm uses a strategic asset allocation approach combining passive index/ETF exposure with selected active funds, dividend-paying equities, and individual bonds, tailoring portfolios on a client-by-client basis.

James Konon Jr. is a financial advisor with Hollencrest Capital Management, holding a Series 63 designation and bringing 31 years of industry experience. He has been with Hollencrest since 2005. Hollencrest Capital Management provides wealth management and consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth and ultra-affluent families, trusts, business owners, retirement plans, and institutional clients. The firm’s investment approach integrates Modern Portfolio Theory with a combination of traditional equities, fixed income, alternatives, private investments, and tax-aware strategies, and it actively sponsors and manages private funds and direct private investment transactions.

Bonnie Wusz is a CFP® professional with 43 years of industry experience, currently serving at BW & Associates, Inc., a firm she has been affiliated with since 1989. She previously worked at Girard Securities, Inc. from 2002 to 2017 and Cetera Wealth Services, LLC from 2017 onward. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses in addition to her CFP® designation. BW & Associates, Inc. manages individual portfolios and provides financial planning and consulting to individuals, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation-driven approach focused on buy-and-hold strategies using mutual funds and ETFs, operating primarily on a non-discretionary basis with client approval for all trades.

Noah Sosa is a financial advisor at Miramontes Capital, LLC in Newport Beach, CA, with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Lincoln Financial Securities Corp and has a background including roles in education and the food service industry. Miramontes Capital advises individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plans, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and 529 account services. The firm manages accounts on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases, using a range of investment approaches including active trading strategies and sub-advisors.

Jeffrey Barrera is an advisor at Miramontes Capital, LLC in Newport Beach, CA, with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and 66 licenses and has worked at Raymond James Financial and Tax & Wealth Management, LLC. Barrera is also the owner and president of Retirement By Design, Inc., a support company. Miramontes Capital serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and retirement plans by offering financial planning, portfolio management, and 529 account services. The firm manages accounts on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases and employs a range of investment strategies, including long- and short-term trading and options techniques.

Matthew Jensen is a financial advisor at US Capital Global Wealth Management, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior work includes roles at MarshBerry Capital LLC, Cutler Investment Group, Helium Advisors LLC, Artis Advisors, and Heller Capital Resources. Jensen is also a licensed real estate agent in California but is not currently practicing. US Capital Global Wealth Management provides investment management, consulting, and financial planning primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a multi-step screening process combining fundamental, sector, and quantitative analysis to build asset allocation models and select managers, utilizing a range of securities including ETFs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and alternative investments.

Laurel Hackett is a financial advisor with BW & Associates, Inc. in Orange, CA, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and bringing 27 years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Cetera Wealth Services, LLC and Girard Securities, Inc. She is a licensed notary who provides notarization services to clients without fees. BW & Associates, Inc. offers investment management, portfolio management, and financial planning to individuals, charities, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term, asset-allocation-driven approach focused on mutual funds, ETFs, and variable annuities, operating primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

Curtis Farrell is a CFP® with over 41 years of industry experience. He has been affiliated with Financial Management Network, Inc. since 1993 and FMN Capital Corporation since 1995. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the boards of the Western Pension Benefit Council’s Orange County chapter and Friends of the Santa Ana Zoo. Financial Management Network provides portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals and institutions, including high-net-worth clients and corporate pension plans. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach combined with active management and offers additional services such as income tax preparation and bookkeeping support.

Moeez Ansari is a financial advisor at Compak Asset Management with 26 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Compak Asset Management since 1999 and Compak Securities Inc. since 2002. Ansari hosts a one-hour "Market Wrap" talk radio show for 20 hours per month, recorded live at the firm’s Newport Beach office. Compak Asset Management is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.2 billion on a discretionary basis for over 1,000 clients. The firm offers investment supervisory services, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services, employing model-driven asset-allocation strategies and a tactical approach to portfolio management.

Joseph Lu is a CFA® charterholder with nine years of industry experience. He is currently a member of the Cutler Investment Group team at Cutler Investment Counsel, LLC. His prior experience includes roles at Yosemite Capital Management and Conscious Capital Advisors, LLC. He is also the managing partner of MM Integration, a business consulting and enterprise software development firm. Cutler Investment Counsel provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning to individuals, corporate pension and profit-sharing plans, foundations, endowments, and registered investment companies. The firm offers risk-based Lifestyle Portfolios, a dividend-focused Equity Income strategy, and 401(k) consulting, while utilizing third-party technology and AI tools to support research and account servicing.

Felicia Gopaul is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with CSP Financial Group LLC in Irvine, CA. Her work history includes roles at Invest for Better, Financial Control Mastery, and a financial education company she runs called Shipt. Outside of advising, she operates this financial education business, which delivers educational services. CSP Financial Group provides discretionary asset management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and business entities. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes portfolio construction and monitoring aligned with Modern Portfolio Theory, asset allocation, and ongoing rebalancing, often utilizing third-party managers such as Matson Money.

John Deardorff IV is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Compak Asset Management since 2015. He holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses. Compak Asset Management is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $1.2 billion on a discretionary basis for over 1,000 clients through a 12-advisor team. The firm offers ongoing investment supervisory services, financial planning at no additional cost to managed clients, and retirement-plan advisory services, utilizing model-driven asset-allocation strategies and a combination of internal and external research.

Sheldon Singleton is a financial advisor with Chicago Capital Management Advisors, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and bringing 30 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at American Trust Investment Services, WestPark Capital, and Delta Investment Management. Outside of his advisory work, Singleton owns several financial and insurance-related businesses focused on life and health insurance as well as strategic tax planning. Chicago Capital Management Advisors is a multi-team registered investment adviser managing approximately $135 million in discretionary assets for individuals, corporations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm employs a bottoms-up fundamental screening process to create customized portfolios across various risk profiles and offers comprehensive financial planning services for complex estate, tax, business disposition, and insurance matters.