Mark Walton is a financial advisor with M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Inc. based in San Juan Capistrano, CA, holding CFP® and Series 63 credentials with 40 years of industry experience. He has been involved with M Benefits Solutions and M HOLDINGS SECURITIES since 2015 and has operated Walton Financial Consulting since 1990. Walton also serves as president and director of Fortis Assurance, Inc., a captive insurance company, and holds leadership roles related to risk management and compensation oversight at affiliated entities. M HOLDINGS SECURITIES, Inc. serves individuals, retirement plans, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities through a nationwide network of independent firms and financial professionals, offering a range of advisory and brokerage services including discretionary investment management, retirement plan consulting, and insurance advisory. The firm employs suitability-based recommendations supported by ongoing monitoring and uses third-party sub-advisors and platform providers to facilitate investment management.

Shannon Kujawa is a financial advisor with Ascentis Independent Advisors, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and 19 years of industry experience. She has worked at Golden State Equity Partners and LPL Financial, among other firms, and has operated as a sole proprietor since 2009. Outside of financial advising, she provides accounting, bookkeeping, and consulting services through her own business and serves as an accounting manager for Vanderweel Ventures, a management company running multiple DelTaco restaurants. Ascentis Independent Advisors serves individuals, trusts, estates, pension and profit-sharing plans, and business entities by offering asset management, comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a tailored investment approach that includes discretionary management, third-party managers, and a Private Direct Investments program to allocate client assets.

Kyle Jones is a financial advisor at Cooper McManus with 17 years of industry experience. He holds the CFP® and Series 66 designations and has worked at firms including Fortress Wealth Management, Aequitas Wealth Management, and LPL Financial. Outside of advising, he serves as Vice Chair of the Beverly Hills Estate Planning Council and is a board member of the Westside Regional Center, a nonprofit focused on social work. He is also involved in music as a performing musician. Cooper McManus serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans with financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a fundamentally driven investment process selecting diverse securities and products to align with client objectives and utilizes model asset-allocation portfolios through sub-advisors and co-advisory platforms to customize client allocations.

Aleksandra Carrillo is a financial advisor at RBC Securities, Inc. with one year of industry experience. She holds Series 63 and Series 66 designations and has previously worked at City National Securities, NYLIFE Securities LLC, and New York Life Insurance Company. Outside of finance, she has experience in sports management through a role at Newport Beach Tennis. RBC Securities, Inc. provides wealth management and brokerage services to individuals, trusts, estates, IRAs, and retirement plans through its wrap-fee investment advisory program. The firm integrates investment management with a broad financial services group affiliated with a bank, offering portfolio management, financial planning, and ongoing reporting to its clients.

Kristopher Reiland is a financial advisor at Private Management Group Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and has worked at Private Management Group since 2022. Prior to his advisory role, his background includes positions in hospitality and educational settings. Private Management Group, Inc. provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individual and institutional clients, managing approximately $4.5 billion in assets across more than 3,200 client relationships. The firm employs a long-term strategic investment approach combined with tactical decisions, focusing on fundamental analysis and a broad range of securities.

Aseell Hamid is a financial advisor at Empirical Wealth Management in Irvine, CA, holding a Series 65 credential. Hamid has less than one year of industry experience and joined Empirical Wealth Management in 2026. Prior work experience includes roles outside the financial services industry at various establishments including The Olives Branch and multiple restaurants. Empirical Wealth Management serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and private pooled vehicle investors. The firm uses a Modern Portfolio Theory-based approach with diversified model portfolios and offers a range of services including investment management, financial planning, tax preparation, retirement-plan consulting, and affiliated insurance, estate-planning referral, and residential real-estate brokerage services.

Courtland Alex is a financial advisor at Cooper McManus in Irvine, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 33 years of industry experience. He has worked at Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., EHG Financial Planning, and Securities America Inc. Outside of his advisory role, he is an independent insurance agent and owner of Evans Haymond Group, LLC. Cooper McManus serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and retirement plans by providing financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a fundamentally driven investment process using a diverse range of securities and model asset-allocation portfolios tailored to client objectives.

Matthew Lyons is a financial advisor at Trilogy Capital, Inc. with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 credential and has worked at Trilogy Financial Services, Empower, Vail Reports, Epting Events, and Savannah Golf Club. Trilogy Capital, Inc. provides investment advisory and retirement-plan services to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, estates, and employer-sponsored plans. The firm uses a risk-based, diversified asset allocation framework with a mix of in-house models and third-party sub-advisors, offering a range of services including portfolio management, retirement plan consulting, financial coaching, and advanced planning that incorporates personal and business real estate considerations.

Kyle Schulz is a financial advisor at Private Management Group Inc with five years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously worked at Viavi Solutions for four years before joining Private Management Group in 2020. Private Management Group provides discretionary investment supervisory services to individuals, pension and profit-sharing plans, trusts, estates, and business entities. The firm manages approximately $4.9 billion across several thousand accounts, constructing individualized portfolios that combine longer-term strategic frameworks with shorter-term tactical adjustments and employing fundamental analysis across a broad set of global instruments.

Jennifer Cagle is a CFP® professional with 29 years of industry experience. She has been with First Foundation Advisors in Irvine, CA, since 1993. First Foundation Advisors provides discretionary and non-discretionary investment advisory and financial planning services to individuals, families, businesses, and retirement plans. The firm employs an open-architecture, multi-asset approach and is affiliated with its corporate parent FirstSun Capital Bancorp, offering integrated banking, trust, and insurance services.

Ralph Adamo is a financial advisor with Kovack Advisors, Inc. in Newport Beach, CA, holding a ChFC® designation and Series 63 and 65 licenses, with 39 years of industry experience. He has worked at Kovack Advisors since 2018 and Kovack Securities since 2021, following prior roles at Csenge Advisory Group and FSC Securities Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, Adamo is a contributing author for HorseMouth and is involved in entrepreneurial activities through his firm Integrity Wealth Management. Kovack Advisors, Inc. is a multi-team registered investment adviser serving a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, pension plans, charitable organizations, banks, and government entities. The firm employs a structured investment process supported by Envestnet technology, utilizing both internal and third-party portfolio models, and offers ongoing portfolio monitoring and rebalancing across multiple custodians.

Joseph Bergin is a financial advisor with Prospera Financial Services, Inc. in Irvine, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials and over 41 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at B. Riley Wealth Advisors, B. Riley Wealth Management, Wells Fargo Advisors, and CIBC World Markets. Prospera Financial Services is a multi-team advisory firm with 271 advisors managing approximately $14.4 billion in client assets. The firm serves individuals, retirement plans, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and business entities, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and access to multiple advisory programs and third-party platforms.

Christopher Cox is a financial advisor with Cooper McManus in Irvine, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and with 25 years of industry experience. He has been with Cooper McManus since 2009 and previously worked at Securities America, Inc. and Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. Outside of advising, Cox is involved with the Wilshire Rotary Club of Los Angeles, where he served as immediate past president, and he is a board member at Atlas Point, a tech-based behavioral science organization. Cooper McManus serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses a fundamentally driven investment process that includes a wide range of securities and model portfolios, and it emphasizes client education and ongoing communication while coordinating with external attorneys for estate-planning services.

Heather Hastey is a financial advisor at SeaCrest Wealth Management, LLC with 15 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 66 designation and has worked at SeaCrest since 2012. Outside of advising, she is involved in mortgage lending and works as an independent insurance agent on a limited basis. SeaCrest Wealth Management is an SEC-registered, multi-advisor firm serving individuals, trusts, estates, retirement plans, charitable organizations, and businesses. The firm offers comprehensive financial planning and investment management, employing a customized, long-term approach that incorporates both fundamental and technical analysis alongside artificial intelligence tools.

Wil Smith is a CFP®, CFA®, and holds a Series 66 license with 20 years of industry experience. He is currently with Cooper McManus and has previously worked at Cambridge Research, Inc. and Securities America, Inc. He serves as a board member for the Grand Lodge of California and Somerset Main Street. Cooper McManus serves individuals, trusts, corporations, and employer retirement plans, providing financial planning, discretionary portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting. The firm employs a fundamentally driven investment approach using a broad range of securities and implements customized model portfolios through sub-advisors and co-advisory platforms.

Clayton Cornhall is a financial advisor with IP Financial Advisory Services LLC, holding Series 63, 65, and 66 licenses and with 16 years of industry experience. He previously worked at firms including Trilogy Financial Services, National Planning Corporation, and LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he owns Cornhall Tax & Advisory Solutions, a tax preparation business. IP Financial Advisory Services primarily serves individual retail clients and offers portfolio management, financial planning, and access to third-party investment managers. The firm emphasizes personalized portfolios and discretionary management, focusing on non-high-net-worth investors and providing a broad range of consulting services beyond traditional investment advice.

Thane McCready is a CFP® with 29 years of industry experience, currently serving as a financial advisor at Perennial Financial Services since 2017. He has also been affiliated with LPL Financial since 2005. Outside of his advisory roles, he operates Perennial Legacy Insurance Solutions, focusing on non-variable insurance. Perennial Financial Services provides investment advisory and consulting services to individuals, trusts, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm offers discretionary asset management and financial planning, utilizing multiple platform relationships and third-party managers to tailor portfolios across various securities while combining ERISA retirement plan consulting with licensed insurance activities.

Dylan Costello is a financial advisor with ValMark Advisers, Inc. in Irvine, CA, holding a Series 66 designation and seven years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Minnesota Life, Tax and Financial Group, and Securian Financial Services, among others. He is also a financial strategist with Navigators Advisory Group, focusing on investment, life insurance, and financial planning. ValMark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional clients. The firm’s approach emphasizes diversified, goal-based portfolios implemented through various investment vehicles and overseen by an investment committee, with additional offerings including proprietary ETF portfolios and index licensing arrangements.

Thomas Vance is a CFP® professional at Pure Financial Advisors, LLC with 30 years of industry experience. He has been with Pure Financial Advisors since 2012 and is also a part-owner of HMV, Inc., a real estate development and investment company. Pure Financial Advisors provides financial planning and portfolio management services primarily for individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and pension plans. The firm uses a planning-centered investment approach overseen by an Investment Committee and incorporates tax-aware techniques and specialized investment strategies.

Benjamin Julianel is a financial advisor at ValMark Advisers, Inc. with 17 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previous experience with Securian Financial Services and Minnesota Life Insurance Co. Julianel is also the founder and CEO of Navigators Advisory Group, an investment and life insurance firm based in Irvine, CA. ValMark Advisers provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, retirement plan sponsors, and institutional entities. The firm’s investment approach focuses on diversified, goal-based model portfolios and asset allocation, utilizing a combination of proprietary platforms, third-party managers, and regular portfolio monitoring.