Richard Sofka is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with 17 years of industry experience. He is currently with Raymond James & Associates and previously worked at Bank of America and Merrill for 14 years. Raymond James & Associates is a large, dually registered broker-dealer and SEC-registered investment adviser managing roughly $501 billion in assets. The firm serves a diverse client base including individuals, institutions, and municipal entities, offering financial planning and consulting with a range of portfolio management styles and affiliated research.

Marijan Pavicic is a financial advisor with LPL Financial in Strongsville, OH, holding the Series 66 designation and six years of industry experience. Prior to joining LPL Financial in 2019, he spent 19 years with Five Points Dentistry/Merit Dental. He is also involved as a life coach through Complete U, LLC. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers financial planning, advisory programs, and retirement plan consulting, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by research and a range of investment options.

Colin Burdette is a financial advisor at Cetera with a Series 66 credential and less than one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Prosperity Advisors and other firms, as well as experience in legal support and customer service. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base including individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a variety of portfolio management and consulting services through a nationwide network of independent advisors and provides access to model portfolios, third-party managers, and customized strategies across multiple program structures.

Amelia Urbanik is a financial advisor with Thrivent Investment Management who holds the Series 66 designation and has 10 years of industry experience. She has been with Thrivent and its affiliated firms since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as President of the Journey of Faith Lutheran Church Council. Thrivent Investment Management provides Dedicated Planning Services to individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit clients through a network of financial advisors. The firm focuses on holistic, goal-based planning across various topics, offering both one-time and ongoing planning engagements without discretionary portfolio management.

Kevin Buzek is a financial advisor at Ameriprise with 23 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Cadaret, Grant & Co., Inc. and Securities America in various roles from 2006 to 2022. Outside of his advisory work, he is involved with the American Legion, assisting with event setup and breakdown. Ameriprise Financial Services is a large, diversified advisory firm serving individual and institutional clients, offering specialized retirement income planning through its Ameriprise Premier Retirement Income service. The firm provides written recommendation reports and ongoing planning advice focused on income stability and tax-aware withdrawal strategies, with a selective enrollment process that includes a range of managed account options.

Anthony Searcy is a financial advisor with OSAIC who holds a Series 63 designation and has 36 years of industry experience. He previously worked at Signator Investors Inc and Raymond James & Associates. He serves as Board Chair for Cleveland Catholic Charities and is a member of the Finance Committee for the Benedictine Trust High School Endowment. OSAIC serves a diverse client base including individual, high-net-worth, institutional, and charitable organizations through a broad network of affiliated advisors. The firm offers integrated brokerage and advisory services with a range of investment options and utilizes asset-allocation tools, risk assessments, and automated rebalancing to manage portfolios.

Laura Weiner Smith is a financial advisor with Ameriprise in Lorain, Ohio, holding a Series 63 designation and 20 years of industry experience. She has been with Ameriprise and its affiliates since 2009. Ameriprise offers a retirement-income planning service focused on clients approaching or in retirement who meet specific asset criteria, providing detailed written recommendations on income sources, Social Security, and tax-efficient withdrawal strategies. The firm combines research, modeling, and tax analysis to deliver tailored, algorithm-supported advice primarily for assets managed within Ameriprise.

Michael Hageman is a financial advisor at Charles Schwab in Richfield, OH, holding a Series 66 designation with one year of industry experience. His prior work includes roles in education and management, as well as a position at Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse. Charles Schwab serves a large client base primarily composed of high- and ultra-high-net-worth individuals through its Schwab Wealth Advisory wrap fee program and affiliated managed-account and financial planning services. The firm offers both non-discretionary investment guidance and access to discretionary separately managed accounts, supported by multi-asset model portfolios and alternative investment due diligence.

Frank Culkar III is a financial advisor with Cetera in North Royalton, OH, holding Series 63 and Series 65 registrations and over 26 years of industry experience. His career includes long-term roles at Culkar Stachowicz Financial Services, Inc. and 1ST Global Advisors, Inc., among others. He is also the president of a CPA firm, Culkar, Stachowicz & Co. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate, charitable, and institutional clients. It offers diversified portfolio management and consulting services through a multi-manager platform, providing a range of program options from model portfolios to bespoke strategies.

Steven Furjanic is a financial advisor with LPL Financial, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 22 years of industry experience. He worked at SII Investments, Inc. for 11 years before joining LPL Financial in 2018. Outside of his advisory role, he operates as a scoreboard operator for Cleveland State University. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, corporations, and charitable organizations through a national network of investment adviser representatives. The firm provides a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement consulting, and brokerage services, utilizing model portfolios, third-party research, and various technological tools.

William Tuchek is a financial advisor at Edward Jones in Strongsville, OH, with 20 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has been with Edward Jones since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he facilitates a monthly book club and networking group in the Strongsville area. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving over four million individual and institutional clients. The firm offers a broad range of investment strategies and services, supported by a large nationwide network of advisors and branch offices.

Pamela Kiltau is a financial advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co. in Akron, OH, holding Series 63 and Series 65 credentials with 47 years of industry experience. She worked at Merrill from 2001 to 2016 before joining Baird in 2016. Outside of her advisory role, she serves as treasurer for Boy Scout Troop #45 in Hartville, Ohio. Baird’s Private Wealth Management department, including the DDK Group, serves individuals, corporate clients, pensions, profit-sharing plans, and charitable organizations. The firm offers services such as financial planning, portfolio management, separately managed accounts, and custody and brokerage services, utilizing a mix of manager-traded and model-traded strategies along with in-house research and technological tools.

Erica Brown is a Financial Consultant who collaborates with clients to develop holistic, all-weather financial plans tailored to their specific goals, investment preferences, and risk tolerance. She applies her expertise to create customized strategies that address individual financial needs. Her professional experience includes roles as a Planning Consultant at Fidelity Investments from 2021 to 2025 and as a Registered Client Associate at Wells Fargo Advisors from 2018 to 2021. These positions have contributed to her knowledge and skills in financial planning and client service.

Dawn Dempsey Smerke is a financial advisor with Cetera who holds a Series 63 designation and has 38 years of industry experience. She has owned and operated Dempsey Financial Services LLC since 1996, providing investment and retirement strategies for individuals, businesses, and nonprofits. Dawn is also involved in selling fixed insurance products, including health, life, disability, annuities, and long-term care insurance. Cetera Investment Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered firm serving a broad client base that includes individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutional accounts. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services through a multi-manager platform with access to affiliated and third-party investment managers.

Timothy Leonard is a financial advisor at Wells Fargo Clearing with 30 years of industry experience. He held prior roles at Wells Fargo Advisors LLC from 2009 to 2016 before joining his current firm. Outside of his advisory work, he serves on the finance committee of Holy Name High School in Parma Heights, Ohio. Wells Fargo Advisors is a national securities firm offering investment advisory services, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to individual, corporate, and institutional clients. The firm combines research and analytics with a broad range of financial products delivered through its bank and insurance affiliates.

Elizabeth Goldthwaite is a financial advisor at Merrill with Series 63 and Series 65 designations and 43 years of industry experience. Her career includes prior roles at Morgan Stanley Private Bank, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and an earlier tenure at Merrill. She is based in Akron, OH. 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. The firm offers a range of model-based and discretionary investment strategies for individuals, high-net-worth clients, pension plans, corporations, and charitable organizations.

Andrew Vavro is a CFP® professional with 20 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Cetera. He has operated Vavro & Co., Inc. since 2013, providing financial advisory services alongside his roles at Cetera Investment Advisors LLC and Cetera Financial Specialists LLC. Vavro also engages in tax preparation and accounting services. Cetera is an SEC-registered adviser serving individuals, retirement plans, corporate and charitable clients, and institutions through a nationwide network of over 10,000 advisors. The firm offers a range of portfolio management and financial planning services using a multi-manager platform with both discretionary and non-discretionary programs.

Gary Mendelow is a financial advisor with LPL Financial and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 23 years of industry experience and has previously worked at Lincoln Investment and Legend Equities Corporation. Outside of his advisory work, he is a co-owner of MENDYFERGU LLC and the owner of K AND G PARTS PLUS, both non-investment related businesses. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations nationwide. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, and brokerage services, utilizing both discretionary and non-discretionary management supported by in-house and third-party research.

James Redinger is a financial advisor at Stifel with 37 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 designations and previously worked at UBS Financial Services for 15 years before joining Stifel Nicolaus & Co Inc in 2022. Stifel serves a diverse client base, including individuals, institutional clients, and charitable organizations, offering brokerage and investment advisory services. The firm’s investment approach incorporates proprietary methodologies developed by its Investment Strategy Group, utilizing forward-looking capital market assumptions and probabilistic modeling.

Jennifer Dieffenbacher is a financial advisor at Raymond James Financial with 31 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Raymond James Financial Services in various capacities since 2003. Outside of her advisory role, she is a Registered Sales Associate for TDM Financial LLC, operating as an associate employee. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. provides financial planning and investment consulting to a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, corporations, and institutions. The firm offers tailored, non-discretionary planning using analytical tools and supports municipal and public-finance work through a unique affiliation with a municipal advisor.