John Polk is a CFA® charterholder and Series 65 licensee with six years of industry experience. He has worked at Portage Capital Management LLC since 2018 and previously spent 14 years at KWK Management, LLC. Portage Capital Management provides discretionary portfolio management for a small number of high-net-worth clients, including individually managed accounts and a private pooled investment vehicle. The firm employs fundamental and statistical analysis, asset allocation, and both long- and short-term trading strategies, distinguishing itself through active management of a private hedge fund and the use of performance-based compensation.

Jeremy Murphy is the sole advisor at Munifi, LLC, an independent firm, and holds Series 65 and Series 66 licenses with two years of industry experience. He is also the CEO of Civic Innovations, a technology holding company that owns Munifi, and serves as president of travel technology company Clicktripz LLC. Additionally, Murphy is a board member of Research Solutions, a document management and analytics company. Munifi, LLC offers automated, algorithm-driven portfolio management primarily through an online platform, serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, charitable organizations, and business entities. The firm emphasizes municipal bond investments and employs model-based strategies such as modern portfolio theory and quantitative analysis, with a noteworthy technology-focused ownership structure.

Gregory Meyer is a CFP® and holds a Series 63 license with 11 years of experience in financial advisory. He has been the principal of New Wave Financial Services since 2014. In addition to his advisory role, he provides accounting and tax services as a CPA and consults for Retire Sound, Inc., a financial technology firm where he contributes to product development and educational content. New Wave Financial Services is an independent advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, and small businesses with financial planning, portfolio management, ongoing tax planning, and tax preparation. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis within a Core + Satellite and Modern Portfolio Theory framework, emphasizing tax-efficient strategies and low-turnover investments.

Jason Tani is a financial advisor at Pure Wealth Management with 28 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Innovation Partners LLC and PURSHE KAPLAN STERLING INVESTMENTS, Inc. prior to his current role. Outside of investment advising, he is also an independent agent for health, medical, dental, and vision insurance through Pure Health Management. Pure Wealth Management provides financial planning and investment management services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and small businesses. The firm uses a tactical asset-allocation approach focused on non-correlation, concentrated holdings, and global diversification, primarily implementing portfolios with no-load and low-load mutual funds and ETFs.

Jivko Velev is the principal of Velev Advisors in Los Angeles, CA, holding a Series 65 designation with nine years of industry experience. He has been providing tax and accounting services as a sole proprietor since 2011 alongside his advisory work. Velev also has a long tenure at Activision Blizzard beginning in 2002. Velev Advisors offers discretionary investment management, financial planning, and consulting services to individuals, trusts, and estates. The firm combines fundamental and technical analysis to develop individualized investment strategies and also provides separate tax, accounting, and business advisory services.

Craig Hawkins is a CFP® with 15 years of industry experience and the owner of Hawkins Capital Advisors, an independent registered investment adviser based in Los Angeles, CA. He has worked at Gradient Securities, LLC since 2012 alongside managing his own firm. Hawkins is also involved in a financial services technology startup and holds insurance agent licenses with various carriers. Hawkins Capital Advisors serves a small client base including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable foundations, businesses, and pension or profit-sharing plans. The firm offers financial planning, investment consultation, and supervisory services with a long-term, disciplined buy-and-hold investment approach that emphasizes passive investments, diversification, cost minimization, and periodic rebalancing.

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.

Dmitry Steesy is the sole advisor at Bravo Zulu Capital Management, holding a Series 65 designation with one year of industry experience. His background includes eight years of service in the U.S. Navy and entrepreneurial roles running Steesy Fire Protection LLC and Steesy Group LLC. Bravo Zulu Capital Management provides investment management and advisory services to individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and families. The firm’s approach emphasizes strategic asset allocation with a core-and-satellite structure, blending passive index and ETF exposures with selective active strategies and global diversification.

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.

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.

Cathy Zhang is the principal advisor at Easy Sunday Financial Planning in San Gabriel, CA. She holds a Series 65 credential and has been operating in the financial planning industry since 2026. Prior to founding Easy Sunday Financial Planning, she ran See Why Zhang LLC dba Easy Sunday Club, a creative business, for ten years. Easy Sunday Financial Planning is a fee-only registered investment adviser serving individuals, families, and small businesses. The firm uses primarily passive investment strategies within an asset-allocation framework and offers both ongoing investment management and one-time planning engagements.

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.