Brett Pernicano is a CFP®, CFA®, and ChFC® with 20 years of experience in the financial advisory industry. He is currently with Corient, where he has worked since 2022. Prior to joining Corient, he spent nine years at Dowling & Yahnke, LLC. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate entities. The firm uses a goals-based, team investment approach that incorporates both in-house strategies and third-party managers, with continuous portfolio monitoring and risk management tools to align investments with client objectives.

Matthew Sessa is a financial advisor at Independent Financial Group, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked with Timothy Hayes Financial & Investment Services Inc. and Crown Capital Securities, LP. Outside of financial advising, he is a licensed health insurance agent, a notary public, and an enrolled agent preparing taxes. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, corporate and pension/profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of strategic asset allocation and manager selection across passive and active exposures to deliver tailored investment solutions using both firm- and third-party models.

George Sustarsic is a financial advisor with Guardian Life, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. His prior work history includes positions at Park Avenue Securities and Mark W. Vannatta. He works with Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, which provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm combines advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies, offering tailored client relationships and access to a range of proprietary and third-party solutions.

Kai Swick is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory, holding a Series 66 designation and two years of industry experience. Prior to joining Kestra Advisory in 2025, he worked at Solomon Retirement Services and Independent Financial Group, and has experience in tax preparation and filing through an independent contractor role with Solomon Wealth Management. Outside of advisory services, he has worked in the tax planning and accounting field. Kestra Advisory provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a broad mix of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers a range of services including fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms, serving clients such as plan sponsors and sovereign wealth funds.

Kathleen Lindquist is a CFP® with 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently affiliated with United Planners' Financial Services of America. Her prior roles include positions at San Diego Wealth Management, LLC and SagePoint Financial Services, Inc. She is also the founder of Sustainable Financial Planning, a marketing entity in San Diego. United Planners Financial Services serves a diverse client base including individuals, corporations, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and brokerage solutions through a network of 477 independent advisors. The firm operates an open-architecture platform with multiple custodians and third-party money managers, emphasizing largely non-discretionary asset management.

James Haug is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at LPL Financial and Waddell & Reed, Inc. Outside of advising, he is a partner at East Village Tax and has been a volleyball coach with Coast Volleyball Club since 2010. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office services, and wrap-fee programs, with a long-term investment approach that incorporates customized portfolios and oversight of third-party managers.

Manuel Martinez is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation and over 48 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ameritas Advisory Services since 2021 and has been involved with Martinez & Winter, where he is licensed to sell fixed insurance products, since 2007. His career also includes long-term roles with Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Investment Corp. Ameritas Advisory Services provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of asset management and consulting services, utilizing model portfolios, mutual funds, ETFs, and individual securities across multiple program platforms.

Zachariah Schlegel is a financial advisor at GWN Securities Inc. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been in the industry since 2026. Prior to joining GWN Securities, his background includes roles in education and transportation as well as periods of travel. GWN Securities provides investment advisory services to individual and corporate clients through various managed account programs and financial planning offerings. The firm employs a mix of affiliated and unaffiliated sub-advisers and uses both asset allocation and tactical strategies in its investment approach.

Lisa Brinig is a CFP® professional with 21 years of industry experience. She has worked at Mariner since 2011 and previously spent nine years with Msec, LLC. Located in San Diego, CA, she is affiliated with Mariner, a firm that serves a diverse client base including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. Mariner provides investment management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and tax services, implementing customized portfolios through a combination of in-house research and third-party managers. The firm is noted for its integrated tax and accounting services and offers administrative family office capabilities alongside a financial wellness platform for employers.

Adrian Duran is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Cetera Advisors and National Planning Holdings. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent financial advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, family office, and retirement plan advisory services, utilizing customized portfolios with a long-term approach alongside tactical rebalancing.

Colby Taylor is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. Before joining Independent Financial Group in 2018, he worked at Deloitte from 2016 to 2018. Additionally, Taylor provides marketing consulting services as an independent contractor for AlphaSights. Independent Financial Group offers investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional plans, utilizing a combination of firm- and third-party investment models across multiple platforms.

Shawna Christiansen is a financial advisor at Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC with 20 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked with Triad Advisors, OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC, Independent Financial Partners, and LPL Financial, LLC. She is also involved with RetirementDNA, a registered investment advisor d/b/a under Integrated Wealth Concepts. Integrated Wealth Concepts serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, businesses, and retirement plans through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and family office services, employing customized portfolios generally built with mutual funds, ETFs, equities, and fixed income using a primarily long-term approach.

Scott Heising is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, based in San Diego, CA, and has 30 years of industry experience. He has worked with Independent Financial Group, LLC and related entities since 2003 and serves as president of Independent Financial Group, Inc. Aside from advisory work, he dedicates time to his role as president of this insurance holding company. Independent Financial Group, LLC provides investment advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional plans. The firm utilizes a combination of firm- and third-party investment models, with strategic asset allocation and both active and passive exposures across risk profiles.

Jeffrey Gohsler is a CFP® and CFA® affiliated with Corient, bringing 13 years of industry experience. He has worked at Dowling & Yahnke, LLC from 2007 to 2023 before joining Corient and its affiliated entities in recent years. 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 combining in-house strategies with third-party managers and employs risk management tools and stress testing to align portfolios with client objectives.

Jake Cohen is a financial advisor at Creative Planning with nine years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked previously at Highcrest Capital, Bank of America, Merrill, and Permanent Value Inc. Cohen is based in Vista, California. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a diverse client base, including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, trusts, foundations, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in assets across more than 1,100 advisors and 151 offices.

Daniel Quirk is a CFP® and CFA® with 17 years of industry experience. He currently serves as an advisor at Creative Planning and has previously worked at Cetera Advisor Networks. Quirk is also a member of the Del Mar City Council. Creative Planning provides wealth management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a broad client base, including high-net-worth individuals, institutions, and corporations. The firm employs a financial-planning-led investment approach that incorporates low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and selective private market exposure, managing approximately $295.6 billion in client assets.

Patrick Wynne is a CFP® with 10 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2021. His prior roles include positions at Epstein and White Financial LLC, Centaurus Financial Inc., and Tremblay Financial Services. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base that includes individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory and focuses on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor strategies.

Brett Keener is a CFP® professional with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving at Guardian Life and its subsidiary Park Avenue Securities. He has held roles at Guardian Life since 2015 and is licensed to sell insurance with multiple companies beyond Guardian. Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, provides brokerage and advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, and organizations, offering both advisor-led discretionary management and model-based strategies through proprietary and third-party platforms.

Alden Salcedo is a financial advisor at Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. His work history includes positions at Guardian Life, Comma8, Mojenta, and snapIoT, as well as time at Pepperdine University. Park Avenue Securities, a subsidiary of Guardian Life, provides brokerage and investment advisory services to individuals, retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of financial planning and consulting services, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and proprietary platforms.

Andrew Rogel is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with six years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has worked at firms including Park Avenue Securities and J.P. Morgan Chase. Rogel has also been affiliated with California State University San Marcos for ten years. Park Avenue Securities LLC, a subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, serves individuals, corporate and retirement plan sponsors, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a range of brokerage and investment advisory services, combining advisor-led discretionary management with model-based strategies and access to proprietary and third-party platforms.