Scott Salaske is a financial advisor at FirstMetric, LLC with eight years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has been with FirstMetric since 2017. Prior to this, he took a planned break from the industry between 2015 and 2017. FirstMetric serves individuals, trusts, foundations, estates, business entities, qualified retirement plans, and charitable organizations by providing discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management alongside financial planning and legacy securities transition guidance. The firm employs a passive, asset-class investment approach using low-cost index mutual funds and ETFs, emphasizing long-term, buy-and-hold strategies with integrated tax-aware practices.

Peter Labrash is a financial advisor at Paragon Retirement Planning, Inc. in Troy, MI, holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at MML Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance, Prudential Financial Planning Services, and other firms. Paragon Retirement Planning serves individual and high-net-worth clients with comprehensive and single-issue financial planning, generally requiring a $100,000 account minimum. The firm emphasizes suitable asset allocation through model portfolio strategies managed by unaffiliated sub-advisors and third-party investment advisers while retaining responsibility for client relationships and reviews.

Justin Hathaway is a financial advisor with EPI Financial Group in Troy, MI, holding a Series 65 credential and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining EPI Financial Group, he worked at Bill Marsh and AT&T. Outside of his advisory role, he owns and operates Not Another TCG LLC, a business involved in buying and selling antiques and collectibles. EPI Financial Group provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to non-high-net-worth individual households, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm employs a sub-adviser platform for discretionary portfolio management and offers financial planning without a separate planning fee.

Jack Findley is a Series 65-licensed advisor at Trustee Empowerment & Protection, Inc. He has experience in related fields spanning over a decade, including roles as CEO/CRO of Decision Technologies Corp. and CEO of Sterling Signal, LLC, a commercial signage producer. His work at Decision Technologies involves licensing proprietary software to Trustee Empowerment & Protection, Inc. Trustee Empowerment & Protection, Inc. serves retirement plan sponsors, trustees, and individual investors through an internet-based platform that refers clients to a network of registered investment advisers. The firm provides a decision-assistance service using a patented application to evaluate and compare mutual funds and ETFs within defined contribution plans, focusing on non-discretionary, process-driven reviews.

Chelsei Latsch is a CFP® with seven years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Antonelli Financial Advisors, LLC since 2017. Her prior work includes a role at Comerica Bank and experience in the hospitality sector at Texas Roadhouse. Antonelli Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations, providing fee-based investment management and various financial planning services. The firm employs a modern portfolio theory approach to build globally diversified portfolios and typically manages client accounts on a discretionary basis.

ABOUT THRIVE RETIREMENT SPECIALISTS Standing out in our industry's “sea of sameness” and b#llsh!t, we introduce a new business model that applies the latest retirement research to deliver “reality-based” retirement planning, representing an evolutionary step forward in how people prepare for and thrive during retirement. We arm you with a framework to make better decisions based on your unique circumstances, enabling you to avoid unnecessary sacrifices symptomatic of following conventional “rules of thumb” intended for the masses. The result is living a more rewarding life optimized for contentment. ThriveRetire is an all-in-one, flat-fee service that includes: • Retirement Planning • Tax Planning • Investment Management • And more! ABOUT ANTHONY WATSON, CFA, CFP®, RICP® Prior to founding Thrive Retirement Specialists, Tony served as a Chief Investment Officer, providing advice and investment management services to over 600 individuals representing over $1.5 billion of investments. Before this, Tony served as Vice President at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where he advised high- and ultra-high net worth individuals on all matters of wealth, including investments, portfolio construction, portfolio management, and retirement planning. EDUCATION: • BBA of Finance, Walsh College • MBA, University of Michigan, Ross School of Business CREDENTIALS: • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) • CERTIFIED FINANICAL PLANNERTM (CFP®) • Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®)

Mark Romin is a CFP® professional at Lakeshore Financial Planning Inc. in Saint Clair Shores, MI, with 18 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Brayton Asset Management and Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. Romin contributes to social media input for a non-investment-related support company affiliated with his firm. Lakeshore Financial Planning Inc. manages discretionary portfolios and provides incidental financial planning to individuals, charitable organizations, and investment clubs. The firm employs client-specific strategies using proprietary model portfolios diversified across asset classes, primarily via mutual funds and ETFs, and manages approximately $469 million in discretionary assets.

Kelly L'esperance is a financial advisor at Barking Sands Capital with 21 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has led The L'esperance Group, LLC since 2011. L'esperance is also licensed as an insurance agent in Michigan and Minnesota, dedicating part of her time to this activity. Barking Sands Capital provides personalized, fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm manages primarily discretionary assets using a core-equity strategy supplemented by dividend-paying equities, bonds, ETFs, and third-party managers when appropriate.

James L'esperance is a financial advisor at Barking Sands Capital in Troy, MI, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license, with 19 years of industry experience. He has operated The L'esperance Group, LLC since 2004. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in a licensed insurance agency selling and servicing fixed insurance products such as life insurance and annuities. Barking Sands Capital provides personalized, fee-based investment management and financial planning services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm employs a core-equity strategy combined with diversified options and uses third-party managers when appropriate, managing approximately $45 million in primarily discretionary assets for about 85 clients.

Kenneth Wittenberg is a financial advisor at Wittenberg Investments Inc. with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Wittenberg Investments since 2018, previously working at Secure Asset Management. Wittenberg Investments Inc. provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm uses fundamental analysis to construct portfolios and offers services such as Investment Policy Statement creation, ongoing monitoring, and pension consulting, managing approximately $89 million in discretionary assets with a small advisory team.

Albert Lalonde is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Kaizen Wealth Management, LLC, where he has worked for 10 years. He has a total of 9 years of industry experience and previously worked with Kaizen Financial Group, LLC. Lalonde also manages an insurance services business as a managing member and insurance agent. Kaizen Wealth Management provides financial planning and consulting primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, serving as an introducer and liaison to third-party money managers rather than directly managing client assets. The firm prepares tailored financial plans and coordinates with other professionals while relying on referrals and fee-sharing arrangements with external investment managers.

Ryan Knaack is a financial advisor at Wealthy Intentions with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has previously worked at Rocket Companies, FCA USA, Conifer Insurance, Sun Communities, and BDO USA. In addition to his advisory role, he serves as a Senior External Reporting Analyst at Rocket Companies, focusing on SEC filings. Wealthy Intentions provides investment management, comprehensive financial and business planning, and tax preparation services primarily to individual clients. The firm uses a passive investment approach based on Modern Portfolio Theory, combining diversified portfolios of index mutual funds and ETFs with fundamental and cyclical analysis to tailor portfolios to clients’ risk and investment objectives.

Walter Maziarz is a financial advisor with Trinity Wealth Solutions LLC in Sterling Heights, MI, holding a Series 66 designation and 28 years of industry experience. He has owned and operated multiple related businesses focused on financial services and tax planning since the mid-1990s. Maziarz also serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations that promote Polish culture and investment opportunities in the Detroit area. Trinity Wealth Solutions is a state-registered independent advisory firm serving individuals, families, trusts, estates, and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers wealth management, retirement and estate planning, comprehensive financial planning, and income tax planning and preparation, utilizing a combination of TAMP-managed strategies and direct securities tailored through a proprietary asset-allocation model.

Felicia Harris is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience, currently serving at EverythingHR Financial Services LLC since 2017. She previously worked at Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. beginning in 2009. Outside of financial advising, Harris is involved in human resources consulting and workforce development through ownership of El Shaddai Consulting LLC and related entities. EverythingHR Financial Services LLC provides portfolio management and investment-advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, and businesses. The firm manages approximately $23 million in assets across about 90 client accounts, emphasizing client-specific Investment Policy Statements and a long-term trading approach supported by quantitative and technical analysis.

Catherine Toone is a financial advisor with Stalt Financial, LLC in Troy, Michigan. She holds a Series 65 credential and has two years of industry experience. Her prior work includes roles at Brookstone Wealth Advisors, Advanced Capital Group, Core Financial Group, and Retirement Resources. She is also a licensed insurance agent. Stalt Financial provides discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business owners, and entities. The firm’s approach combines proprietary research and third-party analytics with diversified portfolios primarily using ETFs, mutual funds, fixed income, and selected insurance products.

Jonathan Carender is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, currently serving as a financial advisor at Paragon Investing, LLC with six years at the firm and five years of total industry experience. Prior to joining Paragon Investing in 2020, he worked at Scio Software and TKS Industrial Company. Paragon Investing provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, other investment advisers, and businesses. The firm employs a tailored approach using asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, fundamental and technical analysis, and a range of investment vehicles including mutual funds, ETFs, and restricted-access funds.

Richard Davenport is a financial advisor at Lakeshore Financial Planning Inc. in Saint Clair Shores, MI, with 27 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. and Raymond James Financial Advisors, Inc. for a combined 19 years before joining Lakeshore Financial Planning in 2018. Lakeshore Financial Planning provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individuals, charitable organizations, and an investment club. The firm uses diversified model portfolios primarily composed of mutual funds and ETFs, employing both fundamental and technical analysis, and offers tailored advisory relationships with discretionary trading authority.

Sean Kelly is a financial advisor at Kelly Wealth Management, Inc. in Royal Oak, MI, holding a Series 65 designation with four years of industry experience. Prior to his current role since 2023, he worked at J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. and has experience in construction and property restoration. He is also active as an insurance agent through Copper Partners II DBA Kelly Capital Partners. Kelly Wealth Management provides discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services primarily to individual investors. The firm manages $160.6 million in discretionary assets and offers tailored investment strategies that may include asset allocation, dollar-cost averaging, and both long- and short-term purchases, utilizing third-party sub-advisers and wrap-fee programs.

Gerald Dehondt is a CFA® charterholder and Series 63 licensee with 16 years of industry experience. He has worked at SS&H Financial Advisors, Inc. since 2019 and has been with Jerrmar Capital Management, Inc. since 2004. SS&H Financial Advisors is an independent SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and foundations with portfolios of at least $350,000. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis with macroeconomic monitoring to guide security selection and emphasizes risk management and asset protection across a broad range of investment vehicles.

Robert Rahaim is a CFP® with 17 years of industry experience and is currently affiliated with DWP. He has worked at DeSeranno Corp. since 2003. DWP provides personalized financial planning and investment management to individual and institutional clients, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs fundamental and cyclical analysis with a range of investment strategies and manages approximately $195.1 million in discretionary assets through a four-advisor team.