Michael Peist is a CFP® with 32 years of industry experience currently affiliated with Cetera. He has worked at Cetera since 2007 and holds a position as a risk management consultant at Apterra Infrastructure Capital, where he analyzes loans and loan portfolios to identify and mitigate risk. Peist also operates a tax preparation business during the tax season. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is a nationwide SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual, retirement plan, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform, encompassing both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

Brian Scanlon is a financial advisor with Wells Fargo Clearing, holding a Series 66 designation and 25 years of industry experience. His prior roles include positions at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Citigroup Global Markets, and MSI Financial Services. He has ownership in SCANFAM, LLC, a non-investment related business he co-owns with his spouse. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm serving individual, corporate, and institutional clients with investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm manages approximately $671 billion in assets across more than 14,000 advisors, offering both brokerage and advisory solutions supported by research and analytics.

Patrick Donovan is a Wealth Management Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. He joined Merrill Lynch in 2007, bringing prior experience in trading and selling bonds to institutional clients, with a specialization in fixed income and municipal bond research. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and History from Hillsdale College in Michigan and a Master of Arts degree in Politics from The Catholic University of America. He holds the professional designations of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Personal Investment Advisor. Patrick resides in New Canaan, Connecticut, with his wife and three children.

Jackson Fredericks is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Southbury, CT, holding a Series 66 credential and four years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at the Dental Associates of Connecticut and Jackson, Grant Investment Advisors Inc., among others. He also worked at Eastern Connecticut State University and Brookfield Public Schools. Ameriprise Financial Services is a diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning through its Ameriprise Premier Retirement Income service, which provides tailored recommendation reports and ongoing advice focused on income reliability and tax-aware withdrawal strategies.

Stephen Collins is a financial advisor at UBS Financial Services in Westport, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses with 31 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Raymond James & Associates, Citigroup Global Markets, Merrill, and Banc of America Investment Services. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients by providing brokerage and investment advisory services, including financial planning and portfolio management. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management, offering a broad range of capital markets services and proprietary research to tailor investment strategies.

Scott Drever is a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley with 24 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Morgan Stanley since 2009. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management provides a range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients, offering tailored financial planning and managing approximately $2.74 trillion in client assets. The firm’s financial planning process includes structured discovery and firm-approved tools but does not typically provide individual security recommendations within its standalone planning services.

Michael Taguiam is a financial advisor with Equitable Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 47 years of industry experience. He has been with Equitable Advisors and its predecessor, Axa Advisors, LLC, since 1999. His other business activities include appointments with United Health Care, Reliance Standard, and Sun Life. Equitable Advisors serves individual clients across varying net-worth levels, as well as pension and profit-sharing plans, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and asset management programs through a network of Investment Adviser Representatives, utilizing both proprietary and third-party investment solutions.

Anthony Leonardi is a CFP® professional at OSAIC with 31 years of industry experience. He previously spent 25 years with Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Muscle Up Bars LLC, a business that produces and sells protein bars, and he has authored a book. OSAIC Wealth serves a diverse client base, including retail and institutional investors, offering a range of brokerage and advisory services supported by model-based asset allocation and portfolio optimization tools. The firm is notable for its scale, complex affiliate network, and recent consolidation activity.

Dean Gaugler is a financial advisor with UBS Financial Services in Westport, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and 38 years of industry experience. His prior experience includes roles at Merrill, Wells Fargo Clearing, and Prudential Equity Group. He has been with UBS since 2009. UBS Financial Services serves individual, corporate, and institutional clients through brokerage and investment advisory services, offering fee-based financial planning, portfolio management, and access to mutual funds and alternative products. The firm combines institutional trading capabilities with wealth management services and employs proprietary research and model-based asset allocations to tailor client plans.

Colton De Leo is a financial advisor at Merrill with a Series 66 designation and no prior industry experience. Before joining Merrill and Bank of America in 2026, he held roles at LL Bean, J & H Pool and Patio, and worked at the University of Southern Maine and Fairfield Comedy Club. Merrill, together with its affiliate Managed Account Advisors LLC, provides managed account services to Bank of America fiduciary clients through the Select Portfolio Solutions Program, offering model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Vincent Camarota Jr. is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 27 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations. His prior experience includes roles at Wells Fargo Advisors and Wells Fargo Clearing. He also works with Wealth Group Financial Advisors in Danbury, CT, providing financial services in conjunction with Raymond James guidelines. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. offers financial planning, investment consulting, and advisory services to a diverse client base, including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm employs tailored, non-discretionary planning and investment consulting that incorporates risk profiling and analytical modeling to support client goals.

Susan Flanagan is Vice President and Branch Leader at Fidelity's Chappaqua branch, a position she has held since 2024. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry, focusing on helping clients create and maintain sound financial plans. Susan leads a team dedicated to providing a thorough and client-centered approach to financial planning, aiming to understand clients' priorities and goals. Her prior roles include Assistant Branch Leader at Fidelity's Scarsdale branch from 2022 to 2024, Business Transformation Project Lead at AllianceBernstein from 2018 to 2022, Strategic Sales Manager at AllianceBernstein from 2010 to 2018, and Internal Wholesaler at AllianceBernstein from 2006 to 2010. Throughout her career, Susan has developed expertise in financial planning and business transformation within the investment management sector. Outside of her professional work, Susan is involved in family activities, social events with friends, and parenthood. She also enjoys running and volunteering in her community.

Jason Hsu is a Wealth Management Advisor at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, bringing over 25 years of experience in providing wealth management advice and services. Since joining Merrill Lynch in July 2007 from Morgan Stanley, he has developed expertise in retirement income planning and wealth preservation. Jason focuses on assisting clients with family wealth management strategies, legacy planning, liquidity management, philanthropic planning, socially responsible investing, tax minimization, and special needs planning, among other areas. He holds multiple professional designations including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC), and Personal Investment Advisor (PIA). Jason earned a doctorate from SUNY Stony Brook and is proficient in both Chinese and English. Committed to the principle of "clients come first," Jason and his team provide prompt service tailored to clients' unique financial goals. Outside of his advisory role, Jason participates in community activities through organizations such as the Newtown Lions Club and Western Connecticut State University. His personal interests include reading, spending time with his family, and traveling.

Jonathan Baron is a financial advisor at Edward Jones with 20 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2010. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as Chair of Finance and Audit for the Masonic Club of Darien, preparing year-end audit and budget reports. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a range of advisory programs, including discretionary and non-discretionary wrap fee strategies, separately managed accounts, and affiliated mutual funds.

Joseph Vessecchia is a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments, where he works to positively impact the financial health, wealth, and peace of mind of his clients by partnering with them to develop and implement customized financial plans tailored to each individual. He has been with Fidelity Investments since 2023, initially serving as an Investment Consultant before assuming his current role in 2025. Prior to joining Fidelity, Joseph worked as a Financial Consultant at E*TRADE LLC from 2018 to 2023. He began his career in the financial services industry as an Associate Financial Consultant at Charles Schwab from 2015 to 2018. Throughout his career, Joseph has focused on providing financial planning and investment consulting services. Outside of his professional work, Joseph has interests in art, baseball, movies, music, pets, and theater.

Amanda Castellano is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab with six years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Moors & Cabot Inc, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC, Bank of America, and Merrill Lynch. Outside of her advisory role, she mentors students at the UConn School of Business and serves on the board and finance committee of the nonprofit Homes with Hope. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. serves primarily high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services, offering a combination of non-discretionary advisory relationships with access to discretionary separately managed accounts and a range of integrated brokerage, custody, and cash management solutions.

George Schott is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding a Series 66 designation and 24 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Clearbridge Investments and Legg Mason, where he was employed for 14 years. Outside of his advisory role, he is employed by Stamford Public Schools. Primerica Advisors offers discretionary asset management through its Lifetime Investment Program, serving individual and high-net-worth clients with model-delivery strategies and discretionary separately managed accounts. The firm curates third-party asset managers and uses a tiered wrap-fee structure for its services.

Robert Somma is a CFP®-certified financial advisor with Ameriprise, based in Fairfield, CT, and has 34 years of industry experience. He has been with Ameriprise in various capacities since 2005. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partner in SKP Consulting Group LLC, a business managing shared lease and office expenses. Ameriprise serves individuals approaching or in retirement, typically with at least $1 million in investable assets, offering retirement-income planning that includes income sources, Social Security options, and tax-smart withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research and modeling with advisory services and provides a broad range of investment, brokerage, and insurance solutions.

Brian Hetherington is the Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor at Merrill Private Wealth Management. He leads a team of seven financial professionals dedicated to serving affluent and ultra-affluent clients across the United States. Brian works closely with ultra-affluent families, particularly those who have accumulated wealth through business ownership or leadership roles in large companies, to assist with the transition from high earned income to living off financial assets. His advisory focus includes corporate executive services, family wealth management, legacy planning, personal retirement planning, individual and corporate investment strategies, and tax minimization. With over 30 years of experience, Brian's team employs a deliberate investment process centered on preserving and growing client assets over the long term. This approach utilizes a value-oriented, contrarian investment discipline that emphasizes maintaining a margin of safety. Brian and his team draw insight from a strong network of clients, friends, and advisors, which serves as an important resource for their investment decisions. His expertise and work with successful business leaders have led to recognition in industry publications such as Forbes and Barron's. Brian earned his bachelor's degree from Princeton University, where he also participated in football. He holds the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Beyond his professional responsibilities, Brian is active in several community and educational organizations, including St. Mark's Episcopal Church, where he serves on the vestry and as capital campaign co-chair, Xavier High School, the New Canaan YMCA, and the Friends of Princeton University Football. He also participates in charitable events such as the Closer to Free Cancer Ride. Brian enjoys biking, football, golfing, hiking, music, reading, skiing, and spending time with his family.

Eileen Tiefenthaler is a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley in Westport, CT, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. She has been with Morgan Stanley since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as an executor or co-executor in estate matters. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer providing a wide range of advisory programs to individuals and institutional clients. The firm emphasizes tailored financial planning supported by structured discovery processes and firm-approved tools.