Mirko Lazenby is a financial advisor at PNC Wealth Management with 39 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 63 designations. Prior to joining PNC in 2021, he worked at BBVA Securities Inc., BBVA Wealth Solutions Inc., BBVA Compass Insurance Agency, Inc., and COMPASS Bank over an 11-year span. Outside of finance, he is a co-owner of Lazenby Yoga, a yoga class provider in California. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only digital portfolio solution for employees. The firm’s approach utilizes approved model strategies implemented via mutual funds and ETFs, with portfolio management delegated to third parties and algorithm-driven risk assessment.

Abdiel Valenzuela is a financial advisor with Principal Financial Services holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 31 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Principal Life Insurance Company, RBC Capital Markets, Avantax Advisory Services, and Puplava Securities Inc. Principal Securities provides brokerage and registered investment advisory services to a diverse client base, including individual investors, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, corporations, and active-duty U.S. military personnel. The firm’s advisory services emphasize direct advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to third-party money manager solutions.

Roderick Evans is a CFP® with 35 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC since 2021. Prior to this, he worked for 25 years at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, Inc. He is a board member of Rancho Santa Fe Farms Golf Club. Independent Financial Group provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional plans. The firm employs a model-driven approach combining strategic asset allocation and multi-manager portfolios across various risk profiles.

Michael Mays is a financial advisor with Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 28 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and UBS Financial Services. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Treasurer and 50% shareholder of JSMD Wealth Management, Inc. Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd. is an SEC-registered enterprise adviser with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and institutional clients, offering a range of advisor-managed programs, financial planning services, and outsourced CIO solutions through an open-architecture platform integrating multiple third-party managers.

Hannah Zuilan is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 12 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Nationwide Investment Services Corp for 12 years. Hannah is currently based in Chula Vista, CA. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s approach includes integrated financial planning and managed account solutions, emphasizing long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within plan lineups selected by plan sponsors.

Ethan Kearns is a financial advisor at Fifth Third Securities, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC and Equitable Advisors, LLC. Outside of his advisory role, he has been involved in entrepreneurial activities including operating a custom upholstery business. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, and institutional clients through both investment advisory and brokerage services. The firm offers multiple program types on the Passageway Managed Account platform, utilizing third-party portfolio managers and various investment strategies such as SMA models, tax-overlay services, and direct indexing.

Danny Recht is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 17 years of industry experience, including roles at Park Avenue Securities and Equitable Advisors. He serves on the board of the Foundation for Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) and is a member of the San Diego Council for AIPAC. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, offers brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies, providing tailored client relationships and access to insurance products and alternative investments.

Lucas Sorich is a financial advisor at Cerity Partners LLC with a Series 65 designation and one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cerity Partners in 2026, he held roles at Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. He has also worked in non-financial positions including at Trader Joe's and MOD Pizza. Cerity Partners advises a diverse client base including individuals, families, trusts, business entities, and institutional investors, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of the end of 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services with an investment approach that combines client-specific profiles, proprietary quantitative screening, third-party strategies, and direct security selection, along with access to alternative and private market solutions.

Sue Badgley is a financial advisor at Rockefeller Financial LLC with 40 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations. Prior to joining Rockefeller Financial in 2020, she worked at Merrill for 39 years. Rockefeller Financial LLC serves high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, family offices, institutional clients, retirement plans, foundations, and corporations. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting through a consolidated investment platform and operates as a registered broker-dealer, providing a range of investment and insurance services.

Douglas Shepard is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) based in San Diego, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has 27 years of industry experience, including 12 years with New York Life Insurance Company. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, institutional clients, and retirement plan sponsors, offering financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services. The firm emphasizes tailored recommendations and manages a majority of its regulatory assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Ezekiel Cortez I is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group holding a Series 66 designation and has one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Empower, he worked at Vail Resorts and Whole Foods Market. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily for employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, delivering services through an integrated model tied to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and manages a large participant base relative to its advisor headcount.

John Nielander is a Series 65 licensed advisor at Cerity Partners LLC in San Diego, CA, with approximately one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Cerity Partners, he worked at the University of San Diego and spent eight years in full-time education. Cerity Partners advises a wide range of clients, including high-net-worth individuals, families, institutions, and investment entities, managing approximately $166.2 billion in client assets as of December 31, 2025. The firm offers customized wealth management services and employs a client-specific investment approach that includes proprietary quantitative screening, third-party strategies, and direct security selection, along with access to alternative and private market solutions for qualified clients.

Kevin Yang is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in San Diego, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and two years of industry experience. He has been with Empower Advisory Group since 2025 and was previously affiliated with Empower Financial Services, Inc. from 2023. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as to Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage account holders. The firm’s services are integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Elisabeth Cullington is a CFP® with 25 years of industry experience, currently with Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. She previously worked at The Colony Group, LLC for two years and HoyleCohen, LLC for sixteen years. Elisabeth is also associated with Connecticut General Life Insurance Company since 1984. Focus Partners Wealth serves individuals, families, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional retirement plans by providing investment management, financial planning, tax and compliance support, family office and business management, and employee benefit retirement plan services. The firm uses a long-term investment approach with an enhanced open architecture combining active and passive strategies, customizing portfolios to client needs while offering discretionary and nondiscretionary account management.

Stephen Kelly is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities. He has worked at both firms since 2016 and 2017, respectively. Outside of financial advising, he is involved with Liberty ID, an identity restoration business. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporations, retirement plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of financial planning and advisory services through advisor-led discretionary management, proprietary programs, and third-party platforms.

Jonas Noack is a CFA® charterholder with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. He previously worked at Northrop Grumman and Meketa Investment Group. Mercer Global Advisors serves individuals, families, small business owners, plan sponsors, foundations, non-profits, and endowments by providing investment advisory services along with financial, tax, retirement, and estate planning. The firm employs a globally diversified investment approach grounded in Modern Portfolio Theory, using a mix of low-cost ETFs, index funds, separate account managers, and private funds, and offers specialized programs and tax-management options.

Katherine Fries is a Certified Financial Planner® with 21 years of industry experience. She is currently with Beacon Pointe Advisors, LLC and previously spent over 17 years at The Family Firm. Beacon Pointe Advisors provides investment advisory and consulting services to a diverse range of individual and institutional clients. The firm employs a disciplined approach that includes allocating across third-party independent managers selected through a proprietary due-diligence process and offers a variety of services including discretionary wealth management, retirement plan consulting, and outsourced CIO solutions.

Matthew Streeter is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds the Series 66 designation. He has one year of industry experience, including prior roles at Park Avenue Securities and PBO Advisory Group. Guardian Life’s subsidiary, Park Avenue Securities LLC, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a combination of advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies, along with access to proprietary programs, third-party advisory solutions, and integrated lending options.

Emily Stevens is a financial advisor at Stratos Wealth Partners, Ltd., holding a Series 66 designation with two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Stratos Wealth Partners in 2026, she worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Charles Schwab Bank, SSB from 2023 to 2026. Stratos Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered enterprise advisory firm with approximately 379 advisors and $18.6 billion in assets under management. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, nonprofits, and other institutional clients through an IAR-driven model and an open-architecture investment approach integrating multiple third-party managers and platforms.

Arturo Mendez Vega is a financial advisor with Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 10 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Empower Financial Services, TIAA-CREF, Tiaa, and Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Voya Financial Advisors, Inc. is an enterprise-scale advisory and broker-dealer affiliate of Voya Financial offering financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan advisory services to individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm employs investment policy statements and model allocations, combining in-house and external strategists with technology-enabled tools to support both non-discretionary and discretionary management arrangements.