Christopher Milton is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with 34 years of industry experience. He has been with J. W. Cole Advisors, Inc. since 2013. Milton also operates Milton Wealth Advisors, which involves selling fixed insurance products. J. W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm provides portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, access to third-party managers, and multiple managed account solutions.

Michael Lambrix is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory in Fallbrook, CA, holding a Series 66 credential and bringing 25 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Commonwealth Financial Network for 12 years before joining Kestra Advisory and Kestra Investment Services, LLC in 2025. Outside of his advisory role, Lambrix is the owner of Monarch Retirement Group, where he manages strategic operations. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a broad mix of institutional and individual clients. The firm offers services including fiduciary consulting, plan-level investment advice, and employee education, supporting recommended investments with due diligence on performance, fees, and process.

John Brown is a Series 66–licensed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He is currently with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC and has previously worked at firms including Raymond James & Associates, Hartford Funds, and Invesco Advisers. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners through various managed advice programs and investment education services. The firm relies on Morningstar Investment Management for portfolio construction and oversight, and serves a large client base primarily with non-discretionary assets.

Aaron Johnson is a financial advisor with Transamerica Retirement Advisors, LLC in Temecula, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fidelity Investments and Transamerica Investors Securities, LLC. Transamerica Retirement Advisors serves participants in employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRA owners, offering managed advice programs and investment education services. The firm uses proprietary software and model portfolios from Morningstar Investment Management to provide personalized asset allocation and retirement guidance.

Adriana Beltran Romeo is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with six years of industry experience. She currently works at TLG Advisors, Inc. and has previously held roles at firms including Simplicity Investments, Lincoln, Ascensus, and TD Ameritrade. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base ranging from individuals and high-net-worth clients to institutional investors. The firm emphasizes manager selection and portfolio diversification using fundamental analysis and Modern Portfolio Theory, offering both traditional advisory services and a digital investment program called Starlight Portfolios.

William Standridge is a financial advisor at Citigroup Global Markets with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Citigroup since 2017, following a year at HSBC Bank USA, N.A. The firm serves individual and institutional clients across a range of wealth segments, offering multi-asset, multi-manager investment advisory programs alongside execution and custody services. Citigroup Global Markets is notable for its large institutional scale, in-house research capabilities, and specialized market roles such as security-based swap dealing and futures commission merchant activities.

Anthony Valdez is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 13 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at JPMorgan Securities LLC, Mr. Market Brewing Co, LPL Financial, LLC, and Empower Financial Services, Inc. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors, their participants, and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm’s integrated approach leverages proprietary and third-party methodologies focusing on long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing within the framework of Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Megan Johnson is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with 14 years of industry experience. She currently works at Kestra Advisory Services, LLC and Kestra Investment Services, LLC, having previously spent ten years at Commonwealth Financial Network. Johnson is a 16.5% owner of Monarch Retirement Group, an operating company involved in securities, advisory, and insurance services. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a broad range of institutional and individual clients, including plan sponsors. The firm offers fiduciary consulting, plan design, employee education, and access to multiple management platforms with discretionary trading capabilities, serving assets totaling approximately $79.8 billion.

Joshua Byer is a financial advisor at J. W. Cole Advisors, Inc. with 21 years of industry experience. He has been with J. W. Cole Advisors and its affiliated entities since 2013 and has worked at Milton Financial since 2001. He holds a Series 66 designation. J. W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent investment adviser representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, and access to multiple managed account solutions, implementing investment decisions through discretionary or non-discretionary approaches.

Arturo Aguilar is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with 13 years of industry experience. He holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses and has worked previously at GWFS Equities, PNC Bank, and BBVA affiliates. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, along with certain retail clients. The firm emphasizes long-term portfolio returns and integrates its services with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms.

Deanna Williamson is a financial advisor with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc., holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 24 years of industry experience. She has been with J.W. Cole Advisors and its affiliated firm since 2013. Outside of her advisory role, she owns and operates Williamson Financial Investments and Planning, providing investment management and retirement consulting services since 2005. J.W. Cole Advisors is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, charities, corporations, and retirement plans through a national network of over 400 independent representatives. The firm offers portfolio management, fee-based financial planning, and multiple managed account solutions, utilizing discretionary and non-discretionary approaches that include fundamental and technical analysis as well as algorithmic allocations.

Samuel Payne is a financial advisor with Brookstone Capital Management LLC in Temecula, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 16 years of industry experience. He has been with Brookstone Capital Management since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in referral services for estate planning documents and coordinates social security education through Premier Social Security Consulting, LLC. Brookstone Capital Management is an SEC-registered adviser providing fee-based asset management and financial planning through a turnkey asset management platform and wrap-fee program. The firm serves a diverse client base, including individuals, retirement plans, corporations, charitable organizations, other registered investment advisers, sovereign wealth funds, and banking institutions, and supports a large advisor network with back-office and TAMP services.

Yazmin Valdez is a financial advisor with Empower Advisory Group in Murrieta, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and three years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Bank, as well as six years at Briseno Tire & Towing before entering financial services. Empower Advisory Group provides financial planning and investment management primarily to employer-sponsored retirement plan sponsors and their participants, as well as Empower Premier IRA and certain retail brokerage clients. The firm uses an integrated model connected to Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms, offering both point-in-time financial plans and optional managed account solutions.

Steven Lebaron is a financial advisor with Independent Financial Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 36 years of industry experience. He has served as an officer and director of LeBaron Financial Group, Inc. since 2005, offering a range of financial services including insurance, estate planning, and tax planning. He also provides estate planning services as an independent contractor with Anchor Legal, PC. Independent Financial Group, LLC offers investment advisory and brokerage services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm utilizes a combination of firm- and third-party investment models and provides financial planning and portfolio management through multiple platforms, integrating both passive and active strategies across various risk profiles.

Robert Britton is a financial advisor at NewEdge Advisors with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP®, CFA®, and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at HUB Investment Partners, TCG Advisors, and Wheelerfrost Wealth Managers. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in the management of the Vine House Bed & Breakfast in Temecula, California. NewEdge Advisors is an enterprise-scale registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations through a network of independent advisors. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and consulting services and utilizes centralized due diligence and technology tools to support its multi-structured advisory programs.

Kalpnesh Patel is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and seven years of industry experience. He has worked with several firms including Prudential Insurance Company of America and New York Life Insurance Company. Patel is also involved with RH Benefits Insurance Services, Inc., where he acts as an agent for Medicare, life insurance, and annuity products. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC 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 services such as asset management, financial planning, retirement plan advisory, and variable product subaccount management through multiple program platforms and a mix of investment vehicles.

Adam Horde is a financial advisor at Kestra Advisory with 14 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network, Cabrillo Mortgage, and Monarch Retirement Group. He is a 16.5% owner/member of Monarch Retirement & Investments LLC, which facilitates securities, advisory, and insurance business. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to plan sponsors and a broad range of institutional and individual clients, offering services such as fiduciary consulting, plan design, and employee education. The firm manages approximately $79.8 billion in assets and serves clients including sovereign wealth funds.

Britton Meland is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors in Temecula, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 18 years of industry experience. He has held positions at Celestar Corporation, Net Law, Bryant & Associates Certified Public Accountants, WealthWave, Lockhead Martin Corporation, and WFGIA. Outside of financial advising, he owns Meland Marine, LLC, a business involved in small boat handling, transportation, and maintenance. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm provides advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary model portfolios, third-party money managers, and both fee-based and commission-based products.

Christopher Burlingame is a financial advisor at Empower Advisory Group with eight years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked previously at firms including Bank of America, Merrill, and Wells Fargo. 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 services integrate with Empower’s recordkeeping and administrative platforms and emphasize long-term portfolio returns and annual rebalancing.

Ryan Trantum is a CFP® professional with six years of industry experience currently with J.W. Cole Advisors, Inc. He has worked at J.W. Cole since 2019 and has held various roles including positions outside of finance such as at Sycamore Academy and Welk Resorts. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as president of a Toastmasters public speaking club and holds leadership roles in local professional and nonprofit organizations. J.W. Cole Advisors operates a large network of independent advisers providing fee-based portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutions. The firm utilizes a combination of discretionary and non-discretionary account management strategies and offers access to digital advice platforms and third-party managers.