Richard Nester is a financial advisor with Royal Fund Management, LLC, holding a Series 63 designation and over 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Royal Fund Management since 2016 and has operated as a self-employed advisor and under Ayers Financial Partners since 1986. In addition to his advisory work, he is involved in insurance sales and services as a licensed insurance agent. Royal Fund Management serves individual investors, corporations, and retirement plans by providing portfolio management, financial planning, pension consulting, and 401(k)/defined contribution advice. The firm constructs tailored portfolios using various analytical methods and strategies, ranging from conservative allocations to options writing, and offers both discretionary and held-away account services.

Robert Nicholas is a financial advisor at Pinnacle Investments, LLC with 25 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has worked at Pinnacle Investments since 2019 and Essex Securities LLC since 2005. In addition to his advisory work, he owns and operates Robert L. Nicholas Insurance Agency, which provides general insurance services including property, casualty, and bonds. Pinnacle Investments is a multi-team SEC-registered investment adviser with approximately $1.06 billion in assets under management and about 50 advisors. The firm serves nearly 2,000 clients including individuals, high-net-worth investors, retirement plans, trusts, charitable organizations, and institutions, offering financial planning, portfolio management, and advisory consultations through both internal and third-party managers.

Joseph Hassen is a financial advisor at LexAurum Advisors in Canton, Ohio, with 12 years of industry experience. He holds a Series 66 license and has worked previously at Nationwide Securities LLC and Nationwide Financial. Outside of his advisory work, he serves as President of the Rotary Club of Plain Township and as Vice President of the North Canton Little League. LexAurum Advisors provides investment management, financial planning, and retirement-plan services to individuals, families, businesses, and institutional clients. The firm employs a multi-advisor team approach, managing approximately $1.27 billion with a focus on diversified portfolios aligned with modern portfolio theory and utilizing model allocations primarily implemented through low-cost ETFs.

Patrick Deorio is a financial advisor with Berthel, Fisher & Company Financial Services, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 32 years of industry experience. He has been with Berthel Fisher since 2003 and previously owned and served as an investment advisor representative at First Eagle Financial Services in North Canton, Ohio. Berthel Fisher & Company Financial Services provides investment advisory and financial planning services to a diverse client base, including individuals, corporations, pension plans, trusts, and institutional clients. The firm offers a range of asset management platforms and strategies, with approximately 100 investment adviser representatives delivering portfolio management and financial planning services.

Paul Bernier is a Series 66-licensed financial advisor at RFG Advisory, LLC with 20 years of industry experience. He has previously worked at Equitable Advisors and Axa Advisors. Bernier serves as a board member of the Green Schools Foundation in Green, Ohio. RFG Advisory is a multi-team registered investment adviser with approximately 178 advisors managing around $8 billion for over 17,000 clients. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and access to both proprietary and third-party investment strategies, serving a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, and institutional accounts.

Benjamin Seaman is a financial advisor at Alphastar Capital Management with two years of industry experience. He holds a Series 65 designation and previously operated Seaman Retirement Planning. His work history also includes roles outside finance, such as positions at Southway Fence Company and Akron RubberDucks. Alphastar Capital Management serves individual, corporate, and retirement plan clients, providing discretionary investment management, financial planning, and subadvisory services. The firm employs a range of investment strategies through in-house model portfolios and third-party tools, supporting over 8,400 client relationships and managing approximately $2.5 billion in assets.

Robert Knotts is a financial advisor with Integrity Advisory Solutions, holding a Series 65 credential and nine years of industry experience. Prior to joining Integrity Advisory Solutions in 2025, he worked at AlphaStar Capital Management, LLC and Regal Investment Advisors, LLC. He also serves as Regional Vice President at The Assurance Group, where he manages an office of insurance agents and sells fixed life insurance, annuities, Medicare, indemnity, and STC plans. Integrity Advisory Solutions serves a diverse client base, including individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and corporate retirement plans. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and sub-advisory services through a network model of investment adviser representatives using both discretionary and non-discretionary strategies.

James Tschantz is a CFP® with 38 years of industry experience. He is currently an Investment Advisor Representative at Signature Equity Partners, LLC, where he has worked since 2023. Prior to this, he spent 12 years with LPL Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he has engaged in the sale of fixed insurance products and operated a wealth management DBA in North Canton, Ohio. Signature Equity Partners, LLC is an SEC-registered advisory firm serving individuals, high-net-worth clients, retirement plans, and business entities. The firm offers portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services through a network of independent advisory affiliates, utilizing model-based portfolio solutions and providing both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Christopher Allen is a financial advisor with Ausdal Financial Partners, Inc. in North Canton, OH, holding a Series 63 designation and 18 years of industry experience. His prior work includes roles at Fortune Financial Services, Prosperity Wealth Management, CoreCap Advisors, and Investment Network, Inc. Outside of advisory services, he serves on the boards of nonprofit organizations supporting veterans and first responders and is involved in tax preparation and memorial services businesses. Ausdal Financial Partners is an SEC-registered investment adviser and FINRA-member broker-dealer managing approximately $2.13 billion in client assets through a network of 152 advisors. The firm offers investment advisory programs, retirement plan services, and financial planning to individuals, trusts, corporations, pension plans, and charitable organizations, delivering strategies through discretionary and non-discretionary accounts with a range of investment options and custodial services.

Amy Roma is a financial advisor with The Huntington Investment Company in Canton, Ohio, holding a Series 66 designation and 13 years of industry experience. She previously worked at PNC Investments for eight years before joining Huntington in 2022. Roma serves as a board member and volunteer fundraiser for the Eric Snow YMCA. The Huntington Investment Company provides advisory and brokerage services to individuals, charitable organizations, corporations, and other business entities. The firm employs an open-architecture investment approach that combines third-party sub-managers and proprietary models through various wrap-fee programs.

Gary Sirak is a ChFC® with over 42 years of experience in the financial services industry, currently serving as an advisor at Primerica Advisors since 1999. Prior to this, he worked with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America starting in 1986. He is an author of multiple books, including *If Your Money Talked…* and *How To Retire and Not Die.* Sirak is also a board member of the Stark Community Foundation and has participated in local business development through the Impact Angel Fund in Canton, Ohio. Primerica Advisors operates as part of a larger enterprise, serving a diverse client base with brokerage and advisory services. The firm offers a mix of proprietary and third-party investment solutions, including model-based strategies and fee-based managed accounts, addressing individual investors, businesses, and retirement plans.

Wayne E. S. Arnold is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Canton, OH, holding the ChFC® designation and Series 63 license. He has 36 years of industry experience, including over 27 years with Primerica Advisors and a concurrent role at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 1989. Outside of advising, he is writing a book on theoretical physics and serves as a panelist for FINRA arbitration cases. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base with a range of brokerage and advisory services, including financial planning and retirement-plan consulting. The firm uses a combination of proprietary and third-party investment strategies and supports both discretionary and non-discretionary account management.

Autumn Taylor is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors, holding a Series 63 designation and 37 years of industry experience. She has worked at Park Avenue Securities and Guardian Life Insurance Company since 2018 and has prior experience at Cetera Advisor Networks, Vantage Financial Group, and Vicus Capital. In addition to her advisory role, she is also an insurance broker for products other than Guardian. Park Avenue Securities LLC serves a broad retail client base, including individual and high-net-worth investors, charitable organizations, and corporate clients. The firm offers both brokerage and advisory services with a range of proprietary and third-party investment programs.

Benjamin Schwarz is a financial advisor with TLG Advisors, Inc. in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, holding a Series 66 designation and eight years of industry experience. He has previously worked with ValMark Securities, Inc. and currently has additional roles in insurance strategy and production. Outside of finance, he engages in automotive photography as a hobby and occasional source of income. TLG Advisors, Inc. serves a diverse client base including individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, charitable organizations, corporations, and institutional investors. The firm focuses on investment supervisory services and portfolio management using manager selection and Modern Portfolio Theory, and it offers a direct-to-consumer digital platform called Starlight Portfolios.

Jordan Evans is a financial advisor at Citizens Securities, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 and Series 63 licenses and has worked in various roles at Citizens Securities and Citizens Bank since 2020. Prior to joining Citizens, he held positions at Charter Communications and AeroTek. Citizens Securities serves a broad retail client base including individual and high-net-worth investors and offers investment advisory programs, brokerage, and insurance services. The firm’s advisory offerings include a digital advisory program and a Managed Account program, operating alongside its broker-dealer and insurance activities.

Michael Erchick Sr. is a financial advisor with Primerica Advisors in Canton, OH, holding the ChFC® and Series 63 designations and bringing 38 years of industry experience. He has been with Primerica Advisors since 1999 and has also worked with Guardian Life Insurance Company of America since 1990. In addition to his advisory role, he is involved in other insurance activities including property and casualty, individual, and group health insurance. Primerica Advisors serves a broad retail client base, offering both brokerage and advisory services along with financial planning and consulting. The firm utilizes a range of investment strategies through proprietary and third-party portfolios and supports various account-level features including lending solutions and tax-harvesting.

Neven Zelich is a financial advisor at Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC with 37 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and has previously worked at Ameriprise and Mid Atlantic Capital Corporation among other firms. He is a co-owner of Jenz, LLC, which manages his Ameriprise advisory business. Steward Partners Investment Advisory, LLC is an SEC-registered firm managing approximately $36.7 billion in regulatory assets. The firm serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as pension plans, corporations, trusts, estates, and charitable organizations, offering a range of investment advisory, financial planning, and managed account solutions.

Lisa Gillen is a financial advisor with Fifth Third Securities, Inc., holding Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and bringing 28 years of industry experience. She has been with Fifth Third Securities since 2001. Fifth Third Securities, Inc. offers brokerage and investment advisory services through its Passageway Managed Account Program to individuals, charitable organizations, corporate clients, and institutional investors. The firm combines its municipal-advisor registration and affiliation with Fifth Third Bank to provide a range of discretionary managed-account programs, including advisor-directed models, separately managed accounts, and unified portfolios with features such as direct indexing and tax-overlay services.

Brandon Lancaster is a financial advisor with Independent Advisor Alliance, LLC, holding Series 65 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 19 years of industry experience. His career includes roles at LPL Financial and Independent Financial Partners, among other firms. He operates New Market Financial Advisors, a business entity used for investment and tax purposes. Independent Advisor Alliance serves a diverse client base including individuals, small businesses, and retirement plans, offering asset management, financial planning, and retirement consulting services. The firm combines independent advisory representatives with access to multiple investment strategies and technology platforms, providing both discretionary and non-discretionary portfolio management.

David Ionno is a financial advisor with PNC Wealth Management in Akron, OH, holding Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with PNC Bank since 2010 and has worked at PNC Investments since 2009. PNC Wealth Management offers retail brokerage and advisory services through model-based programs, including an invitation-only discretionary digital offering that uses algorithmic risk assessment and implements investments via approved model strategies executed with mutual funds and ETFs.