Faruk Jaffer is a CFP® and ChFC® with nine years of industry experience, affiliated with Index Gurus, Inc. He has previously taught at UC Berkeley and UCSC Extension Silicon Valley. Index Gurus, Inc. is an independent, fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, small businesses, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and certain institutional clients. The firm focuses on passive, asset-class investing using ETFs, index funds, and fixed income, offering comprehensive financial planning and portfolio management primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

James Audley is a financial advisor at Argent Wealth Advisors, LLC in Lafayette, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Argent Wealth Advisors since 2014. Argent Wealth Advisors is an independent, fee-only investment adviser serving individuals, trusts, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm applies academically grounded principles and Modern Portfolio Theory to develop diversified portfolios primarily using institutional no-load mutual funds and ETFs, focusing on non-discretionary management and client-approved transactions.

Sumit Sarkar is a financial advisor at Bent Creek Capital LLC with 9 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has been with Bent Creek Capital since 2017, having previously worked as a self-employed advisor. Bent Creek Capital LLC provides discretionary investment supervisory services and portfolio management mainly to high-net-worth individuals and corporate clients. The firm employs a fundamental analysis approach focused on long-term thematic ideas, particularly in the energy sector and North American equities, using a proprietary hub-and-spoke trading model that aligns the manager’s personal accounts with client portfolios.

Paul Dejarnatt is the sole advisor at DeJarnatt, Paul E, an independent firm based in Pleasanton, CA. He holds CPA credentials and has 12 years of professional experience, including two years in financial advisory. In addition to his advisory work, he maintains an active accounting practice providing tax return preparation and advice. The firm offers discretionary investment management and portfolio services primarily for individual clients, managing publicly traded equities and fixed income while also advising on private companies, commodities, and real estate. It serves a small client base with a concentrated approach that includes the use of options and other non-standard instruments under discretionary authority.

Michael Ching is a financial advisor at Nardene Wealth Management Inc in Brentwood, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses with 19 years of industry experience. He has been with Nardene Wealth Management since 2008. Nardene Wealth Management provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning services to individuals, businesses, charities, and small pension plans. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to manage diversified portfolios and collaborates with third-party managers to offer specialized investment strategies.

David Gold is a financial advisor at Newleaf Wealth Management, LLC in San Ramon, CA, with 11 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 designation and has been with Newleaf Wealth Management since 2013. Newleaf Wealth Management provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment management and consulting services for individuals, trusts, corporate and not-for-profit retirement plans, and charitable institutions. The firm emphasizes strategic asset allocation, global diversification, and tailored manager/fund selection, with a notable focus on retirement-plan and pension consulting as well as advisory services for charitable organizations.

Steven Willis is a CFP® and PFS™ credentialed financial advisor with 26 years of industry experience. He has operated Willis Financial Services, Inc. in Clayton, CA since 2010. Willis is also registered as an insurance agent, though he spends minimal time in this capacity. Willis Financial Services, Inc. provides investment management and comprehensive financial planning to individuals, trusts, small businesses, and certain retirement plans. The firm employs an asset-allocation-driven investment approach focused on passive index funds, cost control, and tax efficiency, while also integrating accounting, tax-preparation, and insurance services.

Frank Gavidia is a CFP® professional with 32 years of experience in financial advising. He currently leads Globe & Anchor Wealth Management & Financial Planning, LLC, an independent firm he has been with since 2021. His prior experience includes roles at Nissim & Gavidia Wealth Management & Financial Planning, LLC, Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, and Wells Fargo Advisors LLC. Globe & Anchor Wealth Management & Financial Planning provides portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth clients. The firm employs a fiduciary approach, tailoring portfolios to client goals and risk tolerance, and incorporates derivatives, primarily options, in client accounts—a practice that is relatively uncommon among peer firms.

John Callagy is the principal of Asage Financial LLC and holds a Series 65 designation with 19 years of industry experience. He has served as a CPA since 2009 and has operated Asage Financial since 2006. In addition to his advisory role, he maintains a sole practitioner CPA practice, dedicating a portion of his time to accounting and tax services. Asage Financial LLC provides investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals and entities including irrevocable trusts and limited liability companies. The firm manages approximately $29.9 million on a discretionary basis and employs an efficient-market philosophy with diversified, asset-class-focused portfolios tailored to client objectives and risk tolerances.

Caedmon Bear is a financial advisor at On the Trail Financial Planning, LLC in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 66 designation with 17 years of industry experience. Prior to founding his current firm in 2019, he worked at Honeycomb Financial and Charles Schwab, where he spent over two decades. On the Trail Financial Planning, LLC provides holistic financial planning and discretionary portfolio management primarily for individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a low-cost, passive investment approach using index mutual funds and ETFs and operates a fee-only, single-advisor model with about $83.8 million in discretionary assets under management.

Andrew Wong is a financial advisor at FinCop Financial Planning with one year of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has concurrently worked as a police officer for the City of Mountain View since 2007. FinCop Financial Planning is an independent, fee-only firm serving individuals and families with financial planning and investment advice focused on retirement, estate planning, debt management, and education planning. The firm emphasizes low-cost, diversified mutual funds and ETFs using a long-term, buy-and-hold strategy and offers educational seminars and workshops.

Stoyan Panayotov is a CFA® charterholder with 10 years of experience in financial advisory services. He has worked at Dunston Financial Group and Individual Asset Management while serving as president of Babylon Wealth Management LLC, an independent firm based in Walnut Creek, CA. Panayotov provides financial planning and investment management to individuals and families. Babylon Wealth Management is a single-advisor independent registered investment adviser managing approximately $35.8 million across about 45 client relationships. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, 401(k) plans, and charitable foundations, employing fundamental analysis and modern portfolio theory within a long-term trading discipline.

Rory Vanderheyden is a CFP® with six years of industry experience, currently serving as the sole advisor at Intelligent Investing. He has been associated with Intelligent Investing since 1995. Intelligent Investing is a fee-only independent advisory firm that provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation approach using a core-and-satellite framework with a combination of passive index funds and selective active funds, managing approximately $38 million in client assets across about 66 accounts.

Travis Kauzer is the sole advisor at Kauzer Capital Management, LLC, an independent firm based in Walnut Creek, CA. He holds a Series 65 designation and has nine years of industry experience, including prior roles at Fort Point Capital Partners and The Grupe Company. Kauzer Capital Management provides individualized portfolio management to individual and high-net-worth clients, employing a variety of analytical methods and trading strategies. The firm manages accounts on a discretionary basis, utilizing both traditional and higher-risk investment techniques.

Eric Etu is a financial advisor at ETU Financial in Walnut Creek, CA, holding a Series 65 designation. He has less than one year of industry experience and previously worked at firms including SAP Concur and Ocrolus, Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he operates AlwaysOnTax, LLC, a tax-related business. ETU Financial serves individuals, families, self-employed individuals, and small business owners, providing discretionary investment management integrated with tax planning and standalone financial planning. The firm uses a long-term, strategic asset-allocation approach focused on low-cost mutual funds and ETFs, incorporating tax-aware strategies and limited use of individual securities and exchange-listed options governed by written policies.

Alfredo Banuelos is a financial advisor at Atlas Financial LLC with 17 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked for JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and J.P. Morgan Securities for 14 years. Banuelos is involved in real estate through several LLCs that he owns or partners in. Atlas Financial LLC provides portfolio management, financial planning, and pension consulting services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm offers educational seminars and combines fundamental analysis with modern portfolio theory, focusing on diversified, long-term investment strategies.

Julie Brim is a financial advisor at Spiegelman Wealth Management, Inc. in Walnut Creek, CA, with 24 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has previously worked at Commonwealth Financial Network and Northwestern Mutual in various capacities over a combined 18 years. Spiegelman Wealth Management, Inc. provides personalized investment management and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, foundations, retirement plans, and corporations. The firm employs fundamental analysis and client-specific asset allocation guidelines across a mix of mutual funds, ETFs, individual stocks, and bonds.

Elaine Kwei is a CFA® charterholder with 14 years of industry experience. She is currently an advisor at GKV Capital Management Co Inc and has previously worked at Jefferies & Company, Inc., Meta Platforms, and Lucid Motors. GKV Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management and financial planning services to individual and institutional clients, tailoring portfolios through a combination of top-down macro analysis and bottom-up fundamental research. The firm manages approximately $357 million with a three-advisor team and integrates held-away accounts and estate-planning support using third-party technology.

Stephen Lahl is a financial advisor with Vista Advisor Group, LLC in Walnut Creek, CA. He holds the ChFC® designation and Series 66 license and has nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Vista Advisor Group in 2020, he worked at Charles Schwab and Charles Schwab Bank from 2017 to 2020, and at Travis Credit Union from 2015 to 2017. He also works as an independent insurance agent. Vista Advisor Group provides investment advisory services to individuals, trusts, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities, managing over $314 million in client assets. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting with a fiduciary, client-centered approach.

William Tom is a CFP® professional with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with American Investors Company. He has worked at American Investors Company since 2014 and is also a partner at Mosher Financial Advisors, LLC, where he focuses on financial planning, research, and investment processing. American Investors Company provides investment advisory, financial planning, 401(k) advisory, and asset supervisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, pension plans, trusts, and charitable organizations. The firm combines advisory and brokerage activities through a multi-advisor structure and manages approximately $578 million in client assets.