Stephen Price Hughes is a CFP® with 23 years of experience in financial advising and has been with Excelsus Capital Management since 2004. He holds the Series 63 designation and operates his independent firm in Manhattan Beach, CA. Excelsus Capital Management provides portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and corporate clients, managing approximately $49.6 million across about 72 accounts. The firm employs a multi-faceted investment approach combining fundamental, technical, quantitative, and qualitative analysis, and utilizes a variety of investment instruments tailored to client needs.

Scott Lewis is the sole advisor at Lewis Capital Management, an independent firm based in Beverly Hills, CA. He holds the CFA® designation and a Series 65 license, with 21 years of industry experience. Lewis has led Lewis Capital Management since its founding in 2000. Lewis Capital Management provides discretionary investment management services to individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, corporations, and foundations. The firm employs a value-oriented equity strategy that integrates quantitative screening with fundamental research to build concentrated portfolios, while tailoring fixed income and asset allocation to client objectives.

Rene Rigard is a financial advisor at R. L. Rigard & Associates Ltd. in Los Angeles, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with nine years of industry experience. He has managed his firm since 2015 and also serves as CFO of Nikkimomo, LLC, a catering company where he oversees financial management and marketing. R. L. Rigard & Associates Ltd. offers portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and related advisory services to a diverse client base including investment vehicles, pension plans, corporations, charitable organizations, and individual clients. The firm employs a fundamental, long-term value-oriented investment approach and provides services such as a subscription newsletter, investor events, educational seminars, and private fund management.

Daniel Wykowski is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 63 license with seven years of industry experience. He is the principal of Pacific Street Advisors LLC and has held financial roles at Headspace, Inc., Hulu, LLC, Guggenheim Partners, and JP Morgan. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as the FP&A Manager at Headspace, Inc., focusing on corporate financial analysis. Pacific Street Advisors provides discretionary investment management to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and estates. The firm offers customized portfolio construction using a range of securities and employs a combination of fundamental, cyclical, and technical analysis with a generally long-term investment orientation that allows for tactical adjustments.

Khanh Nguyen is a financial advisor at Ayla Capital with 10 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at firms including Credit Suisse Securities, Inflection Capital, and Caerus Investment Advisors. Outside of financial advising, he provides strategy consulting and coaching services to companies and individuals through his business, Reverence. Ayla Capital offers fee-based, discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services to a select client base, including high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients. The firm employs a tactical allocation approach that incorporates fundamental, technical, and quantitative analysis, and is notable for providing performance-based compensation arrangements and pension consulting services.

Rickie Ames is a CFP® professional with 40 years of experience at Ames Financial Services in Anaheim, CA. He is also an Enrolled Agent and provides tax preparation services during tax season, in addition to selling life insurance. Ames Financial Services offers financial planning, investment management, retirement, estate, and tax planning, as well as insurance planning and consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and corporate pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm employs a needs-based investment approach using primarily no-load mutual funds and manages assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Mazi Malekafzali is a financial advisor at Afzali Investments, LLC, holding a Series 65 designation with seven years of industry experience. He has worked at Afzali Investments since 2019 and is also involved with the Palos Verdes Peninsula School District since 2018. Afzali Investments provides discretionary investment supervisory and portfolio management services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and select entities such as trusts and charitable organizations. The firm employs a client-specific, long-term growth approach using fundamental, economic, and technical analysis, and distinguishes itself by utilizing margin and derivatives within separately managed accounts and negotiating performance-based fee arrangements.

Amin Khakiani is the sole advisor and owner of his independent firm, with 21 years of industry experience. The firm provides discretionary investment advisory and portfolio management services to individual investors and select institutions, including charitable organizations and foundations. It manages approximately $19.3 million in regulatory assets from a single office in Torrance, CA. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes diversified asset allocation across multiple asset classes, utilizing equities, mutual funds, and ETFs, with portfolios managed on a discretionary basis and reviewed quarterly.

Rainee Handley is a financial advisor at Wentworth-Baer Wealth Management in San Pedro, CA, holding CFP® and Series 65 credentials with one year of industry experience. Prior to joining Wentworth-Baer, Handley worked in various roles including positions at the Law Office of Raymond Green and Andrade & Associates Income Tax Service, Inc. Wentworth-Baer Wealth Management provides investment management and limited-scope financial planning to individual clients, including high-net-worth individuals. The firm uses personalized investment policies and asset-allocation-driven portfolios that combine passive and active vehicles, operating with a non-discretionary account supervision model and integrating behavioral finance training into its planning process.

Jay Master is the sole advisor at Master Structured Alternative Asset Related Strategies, LLC, an independent firm based in Los Angeles, CA. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and has 22 years of industry experience. He has led his firm since 2010. Master Structured Alternative Asset Related Strategies, LLC provides asset management, portfolio monitoring, referrals to third-party money managers, and sub-advisory services primarily to high-net-worth individuals and other investment advisers. The firm operates mainly on a non-discretionary basis and is notable for its sub-advisory role to private investment funds that invest with major managers like Blackstone and Carlyle across various strategies.

Marcos Chavira is the sole advisor at TaxDude Financial Advisor in Long Beach, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 registrations with 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at H.D. Vest Advisory and Investment Services and operates his own accounting and tax preparation business. Outside of financial advising, Chavira owns Big Ass Fortune Cookie.com, where he bakes and sells oversized fortune cookies locally. TaxDude Financial Advisor provides non-discretionary investment management, financial planning, and educational workshops to a range of clients including individuals, trusts, and corporations. The firm’s investment approach is client-specific, combining fundamental analysis with long- and short-term strategies, and maintains a close affiliation with an accounting practice.

David Williams is the principal of Williams Wealth Management, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA, holding the CFP® designation and Series 66 license with 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at 1 St Global Insurance Services and 1st Global Advisors, Inc. He also serves as a trustee for several irrevocable trusts. Williams Wealth Management provides financial consulting and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals, business owners, executives, and select institutional clients. The firm emphasizes tax-aware financial and estate planning, business succession, and risk management, implementing model portfolios based on factor-oriented research and primarily managing assets on a non-discretionary basis.

Annette Di Bello is a CFP® and PFS™ with 14 years of experience in financial advising. She has operated her own CPA and CFP professional corporation since 2005. Di Bello Financial provides tax planning and preparation, financial planning, and investment management services to individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pension and profit-sharing plans, and small businesses. The firm employs a strategic asset-allocation approach with global diversification and integrates tax planning and investment advice, supported by its affiliation with an accounting practice.

Marshall Jaffe is the sole advisor at Jaffe Asset Management LLC in Beverly Hills, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 14 years of industry experience. He has managed his firm since 1998. Outside of advisory work, he is a passive real estate investor. Jaffe Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management services to individuals, trusts, endowments, pension, and corporate clients, overseeing approximately $116 million. The firm emphasizes strategic and tactical asset allocation using mutual funds, ETFs, fixed income, and equities, with a focus on complementary fund managers and regular account reviews.

Anjali Jayakumar is a CFP® and Series 65-licensed financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. She is the sole advisor at Fit Advisors LLC, where she has worked since 2015. In addition to her advisory role, she works part-time as a tax manager at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, a full-service accounting and advisory firm. Fit Advisors LLC provides fee-only financial planning and discretionary investment management primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, along with retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a largely passive, index-oriented investment approach using model portfolios and integrates tax and accounting considerations into its services.

Kevin McGuan is the principal of Kevin P. McGuan, LLC, an independent advisory firm based in Long Beach, CA. He holds a Series 63 designation and has 37 years of industry experience, including prior roles at Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. Outside of his advisory work, he is the owner of a real estate investment trust. Kevin P. McGuan, LLC provides investment advisory and portfolio management services to individuals, high net worth clients, pension and profit sharing plans, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, employing a range of analytical techniques and tailored strategies, with ongoing account monitoring and periodic reviews.

Pablo Lopez is a financial advisor at PFL Partners LLC with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and four years of industry experience. He has been with PFL Partners since 2017 and was self-employed for one year prior. Outside of investment advisory services, he provides Consulting CFO and strategic advisory services to early and mid-stage companies. PFL Partners LLC offers investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and businesses. The firm focuses on evaluating and recommending third-party Outside Managers, employs passive investing and fundamental analysis strategies, and provides consulting CFO services as a distinct business line.

Daniel Goldberg is the principal of Goldberg Financial Advisors, LLC in El Segundo, CA. He holds the CFA® designation along with Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has 14 years of industry experience. In addition to his advisory role, he performs strategic planning and corporate development consulting for various companies, which is separate from his investment advisory services. Goldberg Financial Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate plan sponsors by providing portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a range of investment strategies, including the use of derivatives in managed accounts, and offers specialized services such as institutional retirement plan consulting and charitable organization management.

Yuanming Mao is a financial advisor at Sapphire Wealth Advisory in Westminster, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. Prior to founding Sapphire Wealth Advisory, Mao has been involved in various business activities including roles at Siam Sapphire Inc, Navigators Real Estate, Inc., Bittalk Tech Inc., and An Francis LLC. He also has experience in education, having worked at University of California, Berkeley and Long Beach City College. Sapphire Wealth Advisory provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals and families, including both retail and high-net-worth clients. The firm focuses on long-term, diversified portfolio construction using a variety of asset classes and offers non-discretionary portfolio management alongside financial planning on fixed-fee or hourly terms.

Joseph Guo is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 designation, with eight years of industry experience. He has worked at Empath Wealth LLC since 2024 and previously spent seven years at Ameriprise Financial. Empath Wealth LLC is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals and high-net-worth clients through financial planning and investment management. The firm emphasizes asset allocation using a combination of passive and active strategies and coordinates with outside managers and model-portfolio providers to implement client portfolios.