Michael Makula is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Buffalo, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise and its affiliate since 2014. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service designed for individuals nearing or in retirement with significant investable assets, delivering customized Recommendation Reports that incorporate income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax-efficiency analysis with algorithmic tools overseen by specialized committees to support its advisory approach.

Amy Abrahamson is a financial advisor at Merrill with 25 years of industry experience. She holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked at Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC, and Morgan Stanley. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. Merrill, along with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Chloe Benzin is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Buffalo, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. Her professional background includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services, Bank of America, Merrill, and other firms. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party subadvisors, and customized strategies.

Kevin Klein is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 20 years of industry experience. He currently works with Raymond James & Associates and previously held roles at Bank of America and Merrill. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing approximately $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and non-discretionary investment consulting supported by a nationwide adviser network.

Connie Herr is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Buffalo, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 17 years of industry experience. She has been with UBS Financial Services since 2015. UBS Financial Services Inc. serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory offerings, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm integrates institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and uses proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client plans.

Joseph Shaw III is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding a Series 66 designation and 17 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley, M&T Securities, and Private Advisor Group. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and investment management services through a large network of advisors, utilizing various portfolio strategies and technology tools to support advisory delivery.

Nicholas Ludwa is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors in Williamsville, NY, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has worked at Equitable Advisors since 2004 and was affiliated with Axa Advisors, LLC from 2004 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in insurance-related activities. Equitable Advisors provides financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and other institutional clients. The firm utilizes a range of advisory models and third-party asset managers to deliver customized investment solutions.

Matthew Briggs is a financial advisor with RBC Capital Markets, holding a Series 66 designation and 16 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at City National Bank, Bank of America, and Merrill. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, serves individual and institutional clients with a range of advisory programs that include portfolio management, financial planning, custody, and brokerage services. The firm customizes strategies based on clients’ risk profiles and utilizes both in-house and third-party investment managers.

Adam Brunner is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 22 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, AXA Advisors, LLC, since 2004. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the boards of the Ilio DiPaolo Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to high school athletes, and the SonShine Charitable Fund. Equitable Advisors serves a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs. The firm utilizes a combination of proprietary and third-party investment programs and provides ERISA fiduciary services to qualified plans.

William Oliver is a financial advisor with Mass Mutual Investors Services in Amherst, NY, holding a Series 63 designation and 12 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and its affiliated entities from 2013 to 2020. Outside of his advisory role, Oliver is involved in structured settlement consulting and insurance brokerage activities related to health, life, disability, and annuities. Mass Mutual Investors Services, LLC is a broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, business owners, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and employers. The firm offers ongoing financial planning, asset management, and educational seminars, using firm-approved analytical tools to provide tailored recommendations without investment discretion.

Richard Fichter III is a financial advisor at OSAIC with 22 years of industry experience and holds a Series 66 designation. He has spent the majority of his career at Securities America Advisors Inc. and Securities America, Inc. Since 2016, he has also operated Fichter Wealth Management, Inc., which provides financial advice. In addition, he is named to serve as a future co-trustee on a family trust. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, pension, profit-sharing, corporate, and charitable investors through a large network of advisors. The firm employs multiple advisory platforms and integrates brokerage and investment advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools, risk-tolerance assessments, and automated rebalancing to manage portfolios across various asset classes.

Jill Carter is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors with 22 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked within Wells Fargo-affiliated firms since 2009. Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network serves individuals, trusts, and institutional clients by providing a broad range of investment and financial planning services. The firm uses proprietary research and planning tools to develop tailored recommendations across various planning areas, with implementation options through brokerage or advisory programs.

Julie Murphy is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 22 years of industry experience. She currently works at OSAIC and has prior experience with Securities America Advisors, Inc., where she worked for 17 years. Outside of her advisory role, she organizes the Gerry Gentner Memorial Fund, an annual golf tournament raising funds for cancer research, and serves as a high school softball and field hockey head coach. OSAIC serves a broad mix of retail and institutional clients through a large network of affiliated financial advisers and multiple advisory platforms. The firm offers integrated brokerage and investment advisory services, utilizing asset-allocation tools and third-party managers to construct diversified portfolios tailored to client needs.

Joseph Bufalino is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 63 designation and has previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. and MML Investors Services. Bufalino is also involved with the Capital Management Group of Niagara, a non-variable insurance business. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolios, and institutional platforms, supported by a large network of investment adviser representatives and a variety of investment strategies.

Nicholas Cecere is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management in Amherst, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and five years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Wealth Management Services LLC, Principal Financial Group, and Saybrus Partners. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of Financial Advisors. The firm offers holistic, goal-based analyses covering a wide range of planning topics and allows clients to combine planning with managed-account services under a consolidated billing option called “WealthPlan.”

Anthony Ferlito is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Niagara Falls, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses. He has eight years of industry experience, with prior roles at firms including MML Investors Services, MassMutual Life Insurance, Securities America, Bank of America, Merrill, and Citizens Securities. Outside of advising, he serves as a notary public and participates in AI-related training activities involving language bots. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, trust companies, and institutions. The firm offers a range of financial planning and portfolio management solutions, utilizing both proprietary and third-party strategies across discretionary and non-discretionary accounts.

Thomas Wahl is a financial professional with one year of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cetera and Lifetime Wealth Management Group, an affiliate of Lumsden McCormick. He holds a Series 66 designation and has prior experience at Avantax Advisory Services and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Wahl's roles have included assisting with client communications and preparing financial documentation. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individual, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients through a nationwide network of independent advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services, employing a multi-manager platform with access to both affiliated and third-party investment strategies.

Jack Buncy is a financial advisor at Equitable Advisors with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior work history includes roles at Landesign and SUNY Brockport. Equitable Advisors serves a diverse client base, including individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations, offering financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and various asset-management programs. The firm uses a range of advisory models implemented through third-party managers and provides services covering mutual funds, ETFs, separately managed accounts, and select alternative investments.

Sean Siracusa is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Buffalo, NY, holding Series 65, Series 63, and Series 66 licenses and eight years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Northwest Bank, Mass Mutual Investors Services, Pruco Securities, and AXA Advisors. He also spent time at American College Dublin. LPL Financial is a national broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, retirement plan participants, banks, trust companies, and other institutions. The firm offers a range of advisory and brokerage services, including financial planning, model portfolio programs, third-party asset management, and institutional platforms, with a focus on combining technology tools with diverse investment strategies.

Taerica Blanding is a financial advisor with Merrill in Williamsville, NY, holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has 23 years of industry experience. She has been with Merrill since 2007. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.