Susan Portnoi is a financial advisor at Mercer Global Advisors Inc. with 14 years of industry experience. She holds the PFS™ designation and Series 65 license. Her prior experience includes eight years at Traust Sollus Wealth Management, LLC before joining Mercer Global Advisors. Mercer Global Advisors serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth families, small business owners, corporate plan sponsors, foundations, and nonprofits. The firm employs a Modern Portfolio Theory-based investment approach focused on globally diversified, risk-appropriate portfolios using low-cost index vehicles and multi-factor tilts, and offers a range of portfolio management and planning services.

Jason Sangekar is a CFA® charterholder with 15 years of industry experience. He is currently with Hightower Advisors and has previously worked at Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Journey Strategic Wealth LLC, Magnus Financial Group LLC, and Maple Securities USA Inc. Hightower Advisors provides investment advisory and planning services to a broad range of individual and institutional clients, utilizing a multi-manager investment approach that includes discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting.

Robert Toth is a financial advisor with Valic Financial Advisors in Berkeley Heights, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with Valic Financial Advisors since 2010 and previously worked at Agia. Outside of his advisory work, he occasionally teaches yoga to adults and children. Valic Financial Advisors primarily serves U.S.-domiciled individual investors, including high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients, along with corporate and retirement-plan participants. The firm offers discretionary managed-account programs, financial planning, consulting, and brokerage services, using Envestnet-developed UMA models to construct client portfolios.

Ryan Brunnock is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding a Series 66 designation and five years of industry experience. He has worked at Private Advisor Group since 2019 and was previously employed by LPL Financial and Pathstone. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans, offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model and utilizes both proprietary and third-party investment platforms and strategies.

Ian Harvey is a CFP® and Series 65-registered financial advisor with seven years of industry experience. He is currently with Corient in Morristown, NJ, where he has worked since 2022. His prior experience includes roles at Bridgewater Advisors, RegentAtlantic, and other financial firms. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, pension plans, and corporate entities. The firm utilizes a goals-based, team investment approach combining in-house strategies, third-party managers, and customized asset allocation, while employing advanced risk management and private fund capabilities.

William Brown III is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF and holds a Series 66 designation. He has 19 years of industry experience and has been with TIAA-CREF since 2015. TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC’s Advice & Planning Services division provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans, often serving clients with existing TIAA-administered employer retirement plan relationships. The firm also acts as adviser to a donor-advised fund and offers both model and customized portfolio management within a vertically integrated structure.

Kyle Casella is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in Roseland, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 18 years of industry experience. He has worked with TIAA-CREF and TIAA since 2013. Outside of his advisory role, he is a partial owner of Casella Holdings LLC, which operates a Maaco Body Shop. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC provides financial planning and discretionary managed account programs primarily to individuals with connections to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans, as well as to trusts, estates, partnerships, and small retirement plans. The firm separates one-time planning services from ongoing discretionary management and serves as adviser to a donor-advised fund, operating within a vertically integrated group that utilizes affiliated funds.

Jose Matias is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. with 10 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 66 designation and has held positions at TIAA, J.P. Morgan Securities, and Bank of America during his career. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors and retirement plans, offering investment advisory programs alongside brokerage and insurance services. The firm provides both digital and managed account advisory options and operates as a broker-dealer and insurance agency.

Bennett Degen is a financial advisor at SPC with 19 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials. His prior roles include positions at Parkland Securities, The Investment Center Inc, and Tangent Capital Partners. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as a trustee for The Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy / Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ. SPC provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan advisory services to a wide range of clients, including individuals, employer-sponsored retirement plans, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm delivers tailored, discretionary advice through a large advisory network and offers various account programs and strategic partnerships.

Timothy Pedrero is a financial advisor with TIAA-CREF in New Brunswick, NJ, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 26 years of industry experience. He has been with TIAA-CREF since 2006. Outside of his advisory role, he owns several real estate properties, including residential rentals and an empty lot. TIAA‑CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC offers financial planning and discretionary managed account programs to individuals, trusts, estates, and small retirement plans, often serving clients connected to TIAA-administered employer retirement plans. The firm provides both one-time financial planning and ongoing portfolio management, with offerings that include model and customized portfolios managed under fiduciary standards.

Peter Kraus is a Certified Financial Planner® with 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has been with Private Advisor Group, LLC since 2015 and has a long tenure at LPL Financial LLC dating back to 2001. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in tax preparation and accounting services through PK Tax Services. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model and integrates proprietary and third-party managed account solutions to tailor investment strategies for its clients.

Jigisha Thakor is a financial advisor with Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 17 years of industry experience. She has worked with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Co and Hornor Townsend & Kent Inc since 2015. Outside of her advisory role, she teaches yoga, co-hosts a podcast focused on working mom entrepreneurs, and serves as a board member of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. Hornor, Townsend & Kent serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, businesses, charitable organizations, and retirement plans by offering advisory programs, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting. The firm operates a dual registration as an SEC-registered adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer, providing a broad range of custody, execution, brokerage, and investment management services.

Jamal Vinson is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor with five years of industry experience. He is currently with Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc., where he has worked since 2025. His prior experience includes multiple roles at Morgan Stanley and a background in healthcare at Holy Name Medical Center. Schwab Wealth Advisory, Inc. provides non-discretionary fiduciary investment advice and financial planning primarily to clients enrolled in the Schwab Wealth Advisory program and Charles Schwab & Co.-referred clients. The firm’s guidance focuses on asset allocation and investment selection using Charles Schwab’s proprietary research tools, with client-directed trade execution and annual portfolio reviews.

John Bays is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 34 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial and A. G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., and he provides advisory services through the Lewis Wealth Management DBA of Private Advisor Group. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans with portfolio management, financial planning, and retirement consulting. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary solutions through proprietary platforms and third-party managers.

Ou Xu is a financial advisor with Transamerica Financial Advisors, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and 17 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at Ernst & Young LLP and Weichert Realtors, among others. He is also the owner of a single rental property inherited in 2016. Transamerica Financial Advisors serves a diverse client base including individual investors, high-net-worth clients, and institutional entities. The firm provides both advisory and broker-dealer services through proprietary and third-party model portfolios, offering discretionary and non-discretionary investment options.

James Ciprich Jr. is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience. He is currently an advisor at Corient, where he has worked since 2022. Prior to joining Corient, he spent 16 years at RegentAtlantic. Corient provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, pension plans, charitable organizations, and corporations. The firm employs a goals-based, team investment approach that integrates in-house strategies with third-party solutions and ongoing risk management.

Jacob Brower is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with two years of industry experience. He is currently with Private Advisor Group, LLC and has held prior roles at LPL Financial, Gracie Point, and Deloitte and Touche. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to managed account solutions using a fiduciary-based advisory model.

Luke Walling is a Series 66-licensed advisor at Goldman Sachs Wealth Services with three years of industry experience. His work history includes multiple tenures at Goldman Sachs and positions at Wake Forest and Emerald Assets. Outside of finance, he was involved with Angelo’s Soccer Corner. Goldman Sachs Wealth Services advises a diverse client base, including individual investors, executives, institutional clients, and plan sponsors. The firm offers tailored financial planning and portfolio management using strategic allocation models and proprietary research, leveraging the broader Goldman Sachs platform for expanded investment and financial solutions.

Leslie Krajnak is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience, currently affiliated with Private Advisor Group, LLC and LPL Financial. Her prior experience includes roles at New York Life Insurance Company, Palante Wealth Advisors, and several other financial firms. Outside the financial sector, she operated a personal training business, Fit 4 Life Personal Training LLC, from 2019 to 2023. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by offering portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and managed account solutions. The firm employs a fiduciary-based advisory model and uses various investment strategies through both proprietary and third-party platforms.

Kyle Colwell is a financial advisor with Private Advisor Group, LLC who holds a Series 66 designation and has 14 years of industry experience. He has been with Private Advisor Group and LPL Financial since 2012. Private Advisor Group serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, businesses, and retirement plans by providing portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to a range of managed account solutions and third-party investment programs. The firm’s advisory model is fiduciary-based, utilizing various strategies and technology platforms while often implementing advice through third-party managers and TAMPs.