John Ritezel is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network in Issaquah, WA, holding a Series 66 designation and having 21 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Securian Financial Services Inc, Minnesota Life Insurance Co, and Mass Mutual Investors Services. He also engages in fixed insurance sales, dedicating a small portion of his time to this activity. Commonwealth Financial Network is a dual-registered broker/dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser that supports a national network of approximately 2,900 advisors. The firm offers a comprehensive platform including managed-account programs, access to third-party asset managers, and custody services, working with clients to implement portfolios through a combination of internal model portfolios and external subadvisers.

Kevin Berry is a financial advisor at Corient with 23 years of industry experience. He previously worked for 15 years at Bristlecone Advisors LLC before joining Corient in 2025. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that combines in-house strategies with third-party manager solutions and customized asset allocation.

Luther Haugan is a CFP® professional at Oppenheimer with 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Oppenheimer since 2003 and previously spent eight years at CIBC World Markets Corp. Outside of finance, he is involved in underwater photography as a sole proprietor. Oppenheimer is a registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, corporations, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and pooled investment vehicles. The firm offers a broad range of advisory and consulting services, managing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolios across equities, balanced, and fixed-income strategies.

Jeffrey Morelan is a financial advisor at Centaurus Financial, Inc. in Bellevue, WA, with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 credential and has been with Centaurus Financial and Allen Capital Management & Planning, LLC since 2002. In addition to his advisory work, he owns and operates a tax preparation service focused on individual tax returns. Centaurus Financial, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, families, businesses, trusts, and foundations, offering financial planning, portfolio management via the CLASSIC Plus platform, retirement-plan consulting, and specialized advisory services. The firm manages assets under both discretionary and non-discretionary arrangements and employs a variety of analytical approaches, including fundamental and technical analysis, with options for model overlay programs and approved third-party managers.

James Edwards is a financial advisor at Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC in Seattle, WA, holding a Series 65 credential. He has 13 years of industry experience, including a 12-year tenure at Bank of America Private Bank before joining Beacon Pointe Advisors in 2026. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides wealth advisory, consulting, financial planning, retirement-plan services, and outsourced chief investment officer solutions to individual investors, corporations, and institutional clients. The firm combines asset-allocation modeling with third-party independent managers, employing both active and passive strategies across public and private asset classes.

Alexa Willis is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. in Bellevue, WA, holding CFP® and Series 65 credentials with 10 years of industry experience. Her career has been exclusively with Mercer Global Advisors since 2016. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm follows a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios and offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services.

Stephanie Roberts is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC in Bellevue, WA. She previously worked at The H Group Washington, Inc. and Harvest Capital Advisors. From 2018 to 2020, she was involved with When in Travel Series LLC. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services provides financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm manages over $122 billion in assets and employs a diversified investment approach blending passive and active managers with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis.

Evan Wirkkala is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has previously worked at Clear Coast Partners, 30 North Group, Pathstone, and Cornerstone Advisors, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is the owner of Whiteline Advisory, where he serves as a consultant to private family operating businesses, and is a majority partner in Clear Coast Partners, LLC, a firm focused on healthcare-related investments. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing a combination of affiliated and third-party managers alongside proprietary research and a variety of investment vehicles.

Judith Wildes is a financial advisor at Valic Financial Advisors with 42 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2000. In addition to her advisory role, she is an agent for non-securities insurance products with Agia. 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 through its broker-dealer operations.

Qiang Lu is a financial advisor at HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 66, Series 63, and Series 65 licenses. His prior roles include positions at Howbuy Corporation, Transamerica Financial Advisors LLC, Citigroup Services and Technology (China) Limited, Merrill, and HSBC Qianhai Securities Co., Ltd. Lu's outside business activities include administrative support for Howbuy Corporation in a non-advisory capacity. HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. offers managed account programs to individuals, retirement accounts, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm uses strategic and tactical asset allocation combined with global fund due diligence and offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management through several program types.

Karen Henderson is a financial advisor with Rockefeller Financial LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. She previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney and Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated for a combined total of 15 years. Outside of her advisory role, she is a Notary Public in Seattle, WA. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, and corporations. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, operates as a registered broker-dealer, and provides access to alternative investment vehicles through an integrated investment platform.

Sasho Smileski is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, holding a Series 66 credential and six years of industry experience. He has worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Charles Schwab Bank, Bank of America, and Merrill. Outside of his advisory role, he owns residential rental properties in Washington. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering services such as annual financial reviews and investment recommendations based on Schwab’s research tools and asset allocation models.

Michael Ersser Jr. is a CFP® and Series 65 credentialed advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He previously worked at Merriman Wealth Management and BlackRock, and has an additional background in the food service industry with MOD Super-Fast Pizza. Focus Partners Wealth serves a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients, offering services such as investment management, financial and tax planning, and employee benefit consulting. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach that combines active and passive strategies within an enhanced open architecture framework.

Carol Parrish is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors in Bellevue, WA, with 11 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at several firms including WCG Wealth Advisors, Park Avenue Securities, and Guardian Life Insurance. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and financial entities. The firm’s approach emphasizes manager selection and multi-manager solutions, utilizing both affiliated and third-party managers across various investment vehicles and strategies.

Tayler Drynan is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in Bellevue, WA, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. Since 2021, Drynan has operated Drynan Strategic Financial Solutions and also serves as an insurance broker for non-registered insurance products. Eagle Strategies serves a broad mix of individual and institutional clients, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a large network of affiliated investment adviser representatives. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages the majority of its assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Xun Zhang is a financial advisor at Transamerica Financial Advisors with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. Before joining Transamerica in 2025, Zhang worked in various roles including at Microsoft and Groupon. Zhang is a member of the Teochew Association of Washington State. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves individual investors, pension plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporations, offering both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party investment models across discretionary and non-discretionary platforms.

Jason Tafoya is a CFP® professional with 15 years of industry experience, currently serving at Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC since 2026. His prior experience includes roles at The H Group Washington, Inc., CS Planning Corp, Evergreen Wealth, LLC, Stratos Wealth Partners, and LPL Financial. He is also a commissioned notary. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services manages over $122 billion in assets through a large advisor network, offering financial planning, asset management, and retirement-plan consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm applies a diversified investment approach combining passive and active strategies, with portfolio oversight by an internal Investment Committee.

Matthew Pearson is a financial advisor with Creative Planning in Bellevue, WA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and eight years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Fidelity Investments, Global Retirement Partners, LPL Financial, Usi Advisors, M Holdings Securities, and Kibble & Prentice Holding Company. He serves on the board of Global Underwater Explorers, a diving community and training organization. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a financial planning-led investment approach emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supported by a large advisory team and integrated investment infrastructure.

Peter Stankovich is a financial advisor at TIAA-CREF in Bellevue, WA, with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he is also the author of a book published on Amazon.com, which generates a small amount of passive income. TIAA-CREF provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals and entities with existing relationships through TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm’s advisory model separates planning services from ongoing portfolio management and offers customized investment solutions alongside model portfolios.

Michelle Shook is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. Prior to joining Focus Partners, she worked at Merriman Wealth Management and KeyBank. Her background includes roles in education and retail before entering the financial services industry. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC serves individuals, high-net-worth families, family offices, and institutional clients with a comprehensive range of wealth management and advisory services. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach using a blend of active and passive strategies, third-party managers, and private funds.