Dowens Nicolas is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with a Series 66 designation and less than one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Manhattan University and Varonis Systems. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with certain IRA and retail brokerage clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing through a financial planning service integrated with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Christopher Ciani is a financial advisor at Primerica Advisors with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked with Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance for over 15 years. Outside of his advisory role, he sells fixed insurance products through Crump Life Insurance. Park Avenue Securities serves a diverse retail client base, including individuals, high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers a range of brokerage and advisory services, utilizing proprietary model portfolios and third-party investment managers across various account types and investment strategies.

Robert Baker is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 30 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Raymond James Financial Services and Wells Fargo Advisors. He is also the owner of Baker - Sarama Wealth Managers, a support company. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering investment advisory, financial planning, pension consulting, and managed account programs.

Larenz Mitchell is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Wayne, NJ, holding a Series 66 designation and one year of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Merrill and TD Bank before joining PNC. PNC Wealth Management provides retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an online discretionary model account offered as an invitation-only employee pilot that uses algorithm-driven portfolio recommendations and invests in mutual funds and ETFs with annual rebalancing.

Theresa Castro is a financial advisor with Eagle Strategies (NY Life) holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has three years of industry experience. Her career includes roles at NYLIFE Securities LLC and New York Life since 2023, along with prior experience in sports and camp management. She leads a local networking group, Horseneck Networking Group, engaging with community members outside of her advisory work. Eagle Strategies serves a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, and institutional clients, providing financial planning, investment management, and advisory services. The firm offers multiple program types and emphasizes tailored recommendations, predominantly managing assets on a non-discretionary basis within an integrated New York Life affiliate structure.

Maria Licini is a financial advisor with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and having 10 years of industry experience. She has worked at Steward Partners Investment Advisory since 2017 and has prior experience with Raymond James and Wells Fargo. Licini has a role supporting administrative and operational duties at Baker Sarama Wealth Management Group and serves as a personal representative with limited power of attorney on an IRA account. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory, financial planning, and managed account programs.

Simi Schwartz is a CFP® with 17 years of experience in the financial services industry. She is currently with Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC and has previously worked at Raymond James Financial Services, Bank of America, and Merrill. She is a partner and advisor at Steward Partners Global Advisory, LLC. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as institutions, providing a range of advisory and portfolio management services through both proprietary and third-party solutions.

Russell Meccia is a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC with seven years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked with Wells Fargo Bank, NA and Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered, enterprise-scale RIA managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory, financial planning, pension consulting, and managed account programs.

Min Chul Kim is a financial advisor at Eagle Strategies (NY Life) with four years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked in various capacities within the New York Life affiliate structure since 2021. Prior to his work in the financial industry, he was involved with Cosmos Boutique LTD and Cosmos Queens LTD. Eagle Strategies serves individual and institutional clients by providing financial planning, investment management, and retirement-plan advisory services through a network of affiliated investment adviser representatives. The firm offers a range of program types and emphasizes tailoring recommendations to client objectives, with the majority of its assets managed on a non-discretionary basis.

John Geraghty is a financial advisor with Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 21 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Rochdale Investment Management for 18 years before joining Wealth Enhancement Group and Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services in 2023. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services manages over $122 billion in assets for individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and retirement plans. The firm employs a diversified, risk-class based investment approach that combines passive and active management with quantitative, momentum, and fundamental analysis, supported by an internal Investment Committee overseeing portfolio construction and rebalancing.

Leopoldo Matarazzo is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and Park Avenue Securities, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life since 2016. Outside of his advisory role, Matarazzo is involved in estate planning through his own law office and consults on estate and business succession plans with Wiss & Company, LLP. Park Avenue Securities LLC, operating as Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker‑dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals—including high-net-worth clients—pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients with financial planning, brokerage services, and investment advisory programs.

Colleen Silver is a CFA® charterholder with four years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Truist Advisory Services. She previously spent 14 years at Fiduciary Trust Co International/Franklin Templeton Investments. Colleen serves as a volunteer investment committee member for the Science Museum of Minnesota, assisting with oversight of the museum’s endowment management. Truist Advisory Services provides investment consulting and advisory services to individuals, corporate clients, retirement plan sponsors, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a combination of discretionary manager relationships and non-discretionary consulting, supported by third-party platforms and AI-enabled research tools.

Michael Pak is a financial advisor with Citigroup Global Markets, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and having 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Citigroup Global Markets since 2007. Outside of his advisory role, he is a silent investor in Pinetree Enterprises LLC. Citigroup Global Markets serves individual and institutional clients across various wealth segments, offering a range of investment advisory programs and execution services. The firm combines large institutional scale with specialized market roles, implementing multi-asset, multi-manager strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Anand Thakkar is a Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He specializes in helping busy professionals, business owners, and families develop coordinated, tax-aware financial strategies that align with their personal and long-term goals. Anand works closely with clients through personalized wealth management approaches, including college education planning, retirement income design, estate and legacy planning, tax minimization, and managing new wealth. With expertise in equity compensation strategies, concentrated positions, insurance and risk management, and philanthropic planning, Anand supports clients facing major financial events such as business sales, IPOs, and wealth transfers. He combines Merrill Lynch's investment insights with the banking and lending solutions of Bank of America to deliver comprehensive financial planning. Anand holds the Personal Investment Advisor designation and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School, in addition to earning a Bachelor's degree from Wayne State University. Anand is also committed to community involvement, volunteering with local organizations. Outside of work, he enjoys basketball, tennis, music, and reading. His approach emphasizes building one-on-one relationships to provide tailored, actionable financial strategies designed to help clients achieve their financial objectives.

John Orlikowski is a financial advisor with TD Private Client Wealth LLC in Ramsey, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. His prior firms include TD Bank N.A., Bank of America, Merrill, Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE Securities, Equitable Advisors, and AXA Advisors. TD Private Client Wealth LLC offers discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional clients, high-net-worth private clients, and retail customers. The firm employs a blend of strategic and tactical asset allocation utilizing both affiliated and third-party sub-managers, with custody and reporting supported by third-party custodians.

Jason Ellis is a financial advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, with 26 years of industry experience. He has worked at Ellis Financial Advisory since 2020, and previously spent 11 years at LPL Financial and two years at Vision Retirement, LLC. Ellis is also involved in fixed insurance sales through his branch office. Commonwealth Financial Network serves a national network of approximately 2,950 advisors and their clients, providing a range of advisory programs and back-office support including operations, trading, technology, compliance, and practice management. The firm offers various investment programs and discretionary model portfolios managed by its Investment Management and Research team.

Jordan Strickland is a financial advisor at Guardian Life with a Series 66 credential and one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at LifeCare Diagnostic Imaging and Changebridge Medical Associates. He works with Park Avenue Securities LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. The firm provides brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and investment advisory programs to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients.

Jay Choi is a financial advisor at Centaurus Financial, Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Centaurus Financial since 2005. In addition to his advisory role, he is president of JC Financial Group, Inc., which provides tax accounting, filing services, and property and casualty insurance. Centaurus Financial, Inc. provides advisory and brokerage services to a diverse client base, including individuals, families, businesses, and institutions. The firm offers financial planning, portfolio management through its CLASSIC Plus platform, retirement-plan consulting, and specialized services such as annuity and variable life sub-account management.

Michael Littmann is a financial advisor at TD Private Client Wealth LLC with two years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and previously worked at Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company and International Aromatics Inc. TD Private Client Wealth LLC offers discretionary wrap-fee managed account programs and brokerage services to institutional clients, high-net-worth private clients, and retail clients. The firm uses a combination of strategic and tactical asset allocation through TD Managed Portfolios and partners with both affiliated and third-party sub-managers.

Robert Greulich is a financial advisor with Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC in Montville, NJ, holding a Series 65 designation and three years of industry experience. He also works with Hoogstra Greulich PC as a CPA, a role he has held since 2014. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC 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, family office services, and retirement plan advisory, using customized portfolios with a primarily long-term investment approach.