Nicholas Karabas is a Series 65-licensed financial advisor with Creative Planning in Scottsdale, AZ, where he has worked since 2011. He has 14 years of industry experience. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as secretary for a massage therapy business owned by his wife. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process emphasizing low-cost indexing and buy-and-hold strategies, supplemented by various tactical approaches and integrated retirement plan services.

Steven Cook is a financial advisor with United Planners' Financial Services of America, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and possessing 45 years of industry experience. His career includes long tenures at Cue Financial Group, Securities America, PFG Advisors, and other firms. He is also a managing partner of Sparrow Financial, a marketing entity based in Glendale, AZ. United Planners Financial Services is a national wealth-management enterprise serving a broad client base that includes individual investors, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm employs independent investment adviser representatives and uses a combination of custodians and third-party money managers to implement client strategies, with a large portion of its assets under management held on a non-discretionary basis.

Christina Carey is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Mesa, Arizona, holding Series 63 and Series 66 designations and 18 years of industry experience. Her prior roles include positions at Charles Schwab, BancWest Investment Services, and J.P. Morgan Securities. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including the Portfolio Solutions Strategist Digital Offering, which uses algorithm-driven risk assessment and invests in approved models managed by PNC or third parties. The firm’s approach involves delegated portfolio implementation with limited direct client interaction and features an employee-only pilot structure.

Olivia Brown is a CFP® professional with four years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC. Her prior experience includes roles at Strategic Advocates, LLC and several positions within the Cambridge Investment Research organizations. Outside of advisory duties, she is also involved in life insurance brokerage, providing financial planning and insurance sales through Cambridge Financial Services. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates both as an SEC-registered adviser and broker-dealer, supporting a broad range of investment and custody services.

David Rich is a CFP® professional with 17 years of industry experience, currently serving at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. since 2022. His prior roles include positions at Brightside Benefit and Vanguard. Outside of his advisory work, he is the founder of Proudly We Wave, a holiday flag service based in Mesa, AZ. Mercer Global Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, and nonprofit organizations. The firm’s investment approach is based on Modern Portfolio Theory, emphasizing globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios with multi-factor tilts and tax management.

Darcy Bergen is a financial advisor at AE Wealth Management, LLC with 10 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at AE Wealth Management since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Simplicity Wealth, LLC and Horter Investments. Bergen is also the owner of Clear Solutions LLC DBA Bergen Financial Group and serves as secretary/treasurer for Bergens Mission, a charitable organization. AE Wealth Management is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plan sponsors, trusts, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers a platform-centered approach that combines various model portfolio solutions, discretionary asset management, financial planning, and plan services.

Krista Wittmaack is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. in Gilbert, AZ, with 29 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and previously worked at firms including Frost Brokerage Services, E*TRADE Capital Management, Morgan Stanley, and Zions Direct. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved with rental property oversight managed by a third party. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, offering investment advisory programs, brokerage, and insurance services. The firm’s advisory options include a digital advisory program and a Managed Account program, supported by its affiliation with Citizens Bank, N.A.

Kelly Arakaki is a financial advisor at Schwab Wealth Advisory with 31 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 63 and Series 65 designations and has worked at Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Schwab Wealth Advisory since 2014. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering annual financial reviews, retirement and planning discussions, and investment recommendations across various asset classes. The firm uses Charles Schwab’s asset allocation models and research tools, with advisors recommending investments while clients retain final trading decisions.

John Clarke is a financial advisor at Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC with 27 years of industry experience. He holds the ChFC® designation and has worked with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company and Hornor Townsend & Kent for the past 16 years. Clarke is a partner in a multi-line insurance brokerage and serves on the board of directors for American Leadership Academy, a nonprofit organization. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm combines advisory and broker-dealer services, providing custody, execution, and brokerage capabilities alongside investment advice.

Kyle Crews is a financial advisor with Guardian Life and holds Series 66 and Series 63 licenses. He has five years of industry experience and has previously worked at Vanguard Advisers, Inc. and The Vanguard Group, Inc. Kyle is based in Gilbert, AZ. His firm, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, is a dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers brokerage services, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and a range of advisory programs using proprietary and third-party models.

Yvette Fernandez is a financial advisor at Hightower Advisors with 16 years of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Ameriprise and Edward Jones. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and charitable organizations. The firm’s approach involves manager selection and multi-manager solutions utilizing affiliated and third-party managers, with access to a range of investment vehicles and strategies.

Mathew Ofman is a financial advisor at OSAIC Institutions, Inc. with 15 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has worked at firms including Bank of America, Equitable Home Mortgage, and Comerica Bank. OSAIC Institutions, Inc. is an SEC-registered investment adviser serving individuals, ERISA retirement plans, trusts, estates, and corporate clients. The firm offers customized advisory services through a network of investment adviser representatives under a hybrid adviser/broker-dealer structure, providing clients access to alternative investments, lending solutions, and both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Dante Peterson is a CFP® with three years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Focus Partners Wealth, LLC. He has held roles at Kovitz Investment Group Partners, LLC, and TMD Wealth Management LLC. Prior to his financial advisory career, he was involved with the Arizona GOP and has experience working at Arizona State University and other organizations. Focus Partners Wealth, LLC provides wealth advisory and investment management services to individuals, families, retirement plans, institutions, and businesses. The firm employs a long-term, tax- and fee-sensitive investment approach within an enhanced open architecture framework that integrates active and passive strategies, separate account managers, private funds, mutual funds, and ETFs.

Leonard Thompson is a financial advisor with Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has worked with Ameritas Advisory Services since 2021 and has longstanding roles at Arizona Advisors and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp dating back to the early 2000s. In addition to his advisory work, Thompson is a licensed independent insurance agent specializing in fixed insurance products such as life, disability, and long-term care insurance. Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, charitable and corporate entities, and retirement plans. The firm offers fee-based asset management, retirement-plan advisory, and fiduciary services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party sub-advisers, and custom strategies, with a notable emphasis on retirement plan sponsors and participants.

James Hatton is a CFP® and holds a Series 65 license, with 23 years of experience in financial advising. He has worked at Creative Planning since 2022 and previously operated Hatton Consulting, Inc. for 21 years. Creative Planning provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, foundations, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $217 billion in client assets and employs a financial planning–led investment process that emphasizes low-cost indexing, buy-and-hold strategies, and supplemental approaches such as direct indexing and tax-loss harvesting.

Thane Walton is a financial advisor with United Planners' Financial Services of America, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with United Planners since 2014. United Planners is a national wealth-management enterprise serving a diverse client base including individual investors, retirement plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and institutional clients. The firm offers advisory and brokerage services through independent Investment Adviser Representatives and manages approximately $12.77 billion in assets, primarily on a non-discretionary basis.

William Friese Jr. is a financial advisor with Oppenheimer in Scottsdale, AZ, holding a Series 66 license and five years of industry experience. Prior to joining Oppenheimer, he worked for nearly two decades at Arizona Associated Surgeons. Outside of his advisory role, he serves as an independent contractor with Planned Parenthood of Arizona, performing vasectomies for an underserved population. Oppenheimer serves individuals, corporations, pooled vehicles, and retirement plans, offering a variety of advisory programs including discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, consulting, and financial planning. The firm employs a range of investment approaches tailored to different programs and advisors, with a substantial focus on non-discretionary client relationships.

Tiffany Lum is a CFP® with 12 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with United Planners Financial Services of America as a Limited Partner. Her prior experience includes roles at OSAIC, PFG Advisors-RIA, Securities America, and Cue Financial Group. Outside of advisory work, she serves as president of Teal Tax Services PLLC, a tax preparation and accounting firm. United Planners Financial Services serves a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, charitable organizations, and institutional clients, offering financial planning, portfolio management, retirement plan services, and brokerage solutions through a large network of independent advisors. The firm operates an open-architecture platform using multiple custodians and third-party money managers, with a focus on largely non-discretionary asset management.

Consuelo Lopez is a financial advisor with Kestra Advisory who holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has 16 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Kestra in 2021, she worked at Wells Fargo Clearing and Wells Fargo Advisors. Outside of her advisory role, she owns VALSBAT LLC, a baseball coaching business. Kestra Advisory Services provides investment advisory and retirement-plan consulting to a diverse client base, including plan sponsors, institutions, and individuals. The firm offers fiduciary services, plan-level investment advice, and access to various management platforms, serving clients including large institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds.

Reynaldo Sandoval is a financial advisor with Schwab Wealth Advisory, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 10 years of industry experience. He has worked with Charles Schwab and its affiliates since 2014 and serves as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Sandoval also works seasonally as a driver for a local logistics company in the Phoenix area. Schwab Wealth Advisory provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice through the Schwab Wealth Advisory program, offering annual financial reviews and customized investment recommendations using Schwab’s research tools and standard asset allocation models.