Michael Krause is a CFA® charterholder and holds a Series 65 license with 13 years of industry experience. He has been with Counterpoint Asset Management LLC since 2012 and also serves as a managing member of Counterpoint Mutual Funds, LLC. Outside of his advisory roles, he is a managing member and co-investor in ROMULUS Group LLC, which makes passive equity investments in private oil and gas partnerships. Counterpoint Asset Management LLC provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts and estates, using mutual funds and ETFs. The firm employs a combination of mean-variance portfolio optimization, passive and tactical fund allocations, and systematic quantitative strategies, with a notable affiliation to its own mutual fund complex that anchors a significant portion of client portfolios.

Thomas Stout is a CFP® and Series 65 registered financial advisor with 12 years of industry experience. He has been with Stout Capital Management LLC since 2013, where he is one of two advisers at the firm. Stout Capital Management LLC provides investment management, comprehensive wealth management, and financial planning services to individuals, trusts, and company retirement plans. The firm serves both middle and high-net-worth clients, using a portfolio approach based on modern portfolio theory, asset allocation, and global diversification with low-cost mutual funds and ETFs.

Anastasia Melbrod is a CFP® with 19 years of industry experience and has been with M Wealth Management, LLC since 2015. She previously worked at National Planning Corporation and operated Melbrod Financial Services, where she was involved in fixed insurance sales and tax preparation. M Wealth Management provides discretionary asset management and financial planning to individuals and business clients, emphasizing a long-term, evidence-based investment approach with a focus on strategic asset allocation, diversification, tax-aware implementation, and behavioral coaching. The firm integrates in-house tax planning and preparation services alongside its advisory offerings.

David Wilson is a CFP® professional with 39 years of industry experience, currently serving as president of Vector Financial Solutions, Inc. He previously worked at Sagepoint Financial, Inc. and National Planning Corporation. Outside of his advisory role, he writes educational articles and blog posts on financial planning topics and serves on the Rancho Bernardo Community Planning Board as well as the Palomar Health Foundation Board, where he is Treasurer. Vector Financial Solutions serves individual and high-net-worth clients, corporations, charities, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management using model portfolios based on Modern Portfolio Theory, and retirement plan consulting, offering both discretionary and non-discretionary management services.

Romy Brown is a financial advisor at Beta Wealth Group, Inc. with 26 years of industry experience. She holds the Series 66 designation and has previously worked at Girard Securities, Inc. and Pacific Wealth Management, LLC. Outside of her advisory role, she is also a Notary Public in San Diego. Beta Wealth Group serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, and institutional clients, including employer-sponsored retirement plans. The firm offers comprehensive portfolio management, financial planning, and consulting services, employing a personalized investment approach that includes the use of ETFs, mutual funds, individual securities, option strategies, and delegated money management.

Shelley Murasko is a CFP® and holds a Series 66 license with 12 years of industry experience. She has been with Wealthrise Financial Planning, LLC since 2016. Outside of her advisory work, she has a minor involvement in real estate rental activities. Wealthrise Financial Planning serves individual and high-net-worth investors, with a focus on working with women regarding financial empowerment, longevity, and long-term care planning. The firm employs an evidence-based, tax-aware investment approach that emphasizes low-cost, low-turnover, long-term buy-and-hold portfolios primarily composed of passively managed funds with factor-aware tilts and integrates behavioral considerations alongside statistical financial planning.

Jeffrey Houghtby is a financial advisor at D. M. Brenner, Inc. with three years of industry experience. He holds the Series 65 designation and previously worked at Cerity Partners LLC, West Coast Financial, LLC, and has experience outside finance with the San Francisco Giants and the University of San Diego. D. M. Brenner, Inc. is a SEC-registered advisory firm serving individual clients, including high-net-worth households, with customized financial planning, discretionary asset management, and consulting for qualified plan sponsors. The firm uses asset-allocation strategies based on Modern Portfolio Theory and combines financial planning with asset management for a single fee.

John Reis is a financial advisor at Ervin Investment Management with 17 years of industry experience. He is also the CEO and owner of Reis Investment Management, a firm he founded in 1994 and operated concurrently until client accounts transitioned to Ervin Investment Management in 2019. Ervin Investment Management is a small, supported advisory firm managing approximately $243 million for individuals, families, trusts, charitable foundations, and small pension funds. The firm employs a long-term, value-oriented investment approach emphasizing fundamental analysis, low turnover, and broad diversification through low-cost index ETFs.

Leslie Merrithew is a CFP® with 13 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Merrithew & Thorsten, Inc. in San Diego, CA. She has been with the firm since 1998. Merrithew & Thorsten serves individual and high-net-worth clients, focusing on professionals near retirement or undergoing major life changes. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and tax services, emphasizing tax-aware strategies and lower-volatility portfolios.

Joseph Stella is a CFP®-credentialed financial advisor with 11 years of industry experience. He is currently affiliated with Harvesting Gains Corporation and has held prior roles at Cetera, Presidio Capital Management, First Allied Advisory Services, First Allied Securities, and Gould Asset Management. Harvesting Gains Corporation provides investment and planning services primarily to individuals, high-net-worth clients, business owners, and trusts and estates. The firm’s approach integrates discretionary portfolio management, 1031 like-kind exchange advisory, private placement advice, and comprehensive financial planning, combining fundamental analysis and tax-efficient strategies with a long-term buy-and-hold orientation.

Michael Taylor is a CFA® charterholder with two years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Counterpoint Asset Management LLC since 2021. Prior to this, he worked at Tablature, LLC and Seeking Alpha, LLC. Counterpoint Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and other entities. The firm employs a mix of passive and tactical fund allocations driven by mean-variance optimization and systematic quantitative strategies, and is notable for its affiliation with an owned mutual fund complex where it serves as both manager and sub-adviser.

Jason Brustkern is a Series 65 licensed advisor with Kelley Investments in Del Mar, CA, where he has worked since 2026. He has over 25 years of experience, including a long-standing role with Scott & Cronin, LLP since 2001. Kelley Investments provides discretionary and non-discretionary wealth management, financial planning, and pension consulting to individuals, high-net-worth clients, families, trusts, and retirement plans. The firm manages approximately $238 million across roughly 216 client relationships, employing proprietary portfolio strategies focused on growth at a reasonable price with a buy-and-hold approach and moderate turnover.

Scott Frank is a CFP®, CFA®, and Series 65 credentialed financial advisor with 18 years of industry experience. He has been with Stone Steps Financial, LLC since 2015, a fee-only advisory firm based in Encinitas, CA. Stone Steps Financial provides comprehensive financial planning and investment management primarily to individuals and high-net-worth clients, employing a passive, asset-class-based investment approach using index mutual funds and ETFs. The firm manages over $105 million in discretionary assets and offers additional services including retirement plan consulting and small-business advisory.

James Paulsen is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience. He currently serves as the sole advisor at Taxable Wealth, having previously worked for 10 years at Guggenheim Funds Distributors LLC. Outside of financial advising, he holds a passive ownership interest in a clothing company through TAVIK Holdings, LLC. Taxable Wealth provides investment advisory and financial planning services primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, with a focus on passive portfolio construction using low-cost index funds, fundamental analysis, and ongoing portfolio review. The firm also offers tax return preparation and consultation on digital assets, managing about $91.25 million in discretionary assets across roughly 40 clients.

Jonpaul Ursick is a financial advisor at SCSC Advisors, LLC with one year of industry experience. He holds Series 65 and Series 63 licenses. Prior to joining SCSC Advisors, he worked at LPL Financial and Deloitte. SCSC Advisors, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing asset management, financial planning, and retirement plan consulting to both individual and institutional clients. The firm offers customized portfolio construction using fundamental and technical analysis, and provides fiduciary retirement plan services including ERISA Section 3(21) and 3(38) plan management.

Andrew Sontag is a CFP® with 20 years of industry experience, currently serving as an advisor at Carlsbad Wealth Advisory Group, Inc. since 2008. He holds a Series 66 designation and works out of Carlsbad, CA. Carlsbad Wealth Advisory Group offers discretionary portfolio management and comprehensive financial planning to a range of clients including individuals, high-net-worth households, trusts, foundations, and charitable organizations. The firm’s investment approach centers on asset allocation using primarily exchange-traded funds (ETFs), focusing on low expense ratios, internal diversification, and liquidity, while managing all client assets in-house.

Denise Barrett is a financial advisor with Cornerstone Wealth Advisors, Inc. in Carlsbad, CA, holding a Series 65 designation and bringing 12 years of industry experience. She is also the founder and president of Barrett Solutions Inc., a bookkeeping and payroll services business. Additionally, Barrett serves as owner and CEO of Cornerstone Family Office, Inc., a family business management firm. Cornerstone Wealth Advisors, Inc. serves individuals, trusts, estates, charitable organizations, and retirement plans, providing financial planning and discretionary investment management through a proprietary strategic asset-allocation framework. The firm also offers specialized ERISA plan services and employs fundamental and cyclical analysis with routine due diligence on third-party managers.

Daniel Osgood is a financial advisor with 24 years of industry experience, currently serving as President and CEO of DCO Wealth Management. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has been with Tate Asset Management since 2012 and DCO Wealth Management since 2009. Tate Asset Management and DCO Wealth Management provide investment supervisory services, discretionary advisory, and financial planning to individuals, pension plans, trusts, estates, and corporate entities. The firm offers portfolio management and consulting tailored to client goals, employing a variety of asset types and trading strategies, and is noted for its ERISA-focused retirement plan services and institutional fiduciary work.

Daniel Krause is a financial advisor with Counterpoint Asset Management LLC, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and bringing 33 years of industry experience. He has been with Counterpoint and its affiliated entities since 2011. Krause is also a partner in Romulus Group, LLC, an investment-related activity involving personal private investments. Counterpoint Asset Management provides discretionary portfolio management primarily to individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as trusts and estates, utilizing mutual funds and ETFs. The firm employs a combination of mean-variance optimization, passive and tactical fund allocations, and systematic quantitative strategies, and maintains an affiliated mutual fund complex that anchors a significant portion of client portfolios.

Mark Lamb is a financial advisor at Vector Financial Solutions, Inc. with 31 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 credentials and has worked previously at Royal Alliance Associates, INC. and Double Diamond Financial. Outside of his advisory role, he is involved in health insurance sales through Alta Vista Insurance. Vector Financial Solutions serves individuals, including high-net-worth clients, as well as corporations, charities, and pension and profit-sharing plans. The firm provides comprehensive financial planning, portfolio management, and retirement-plan consulting, using modern portfolio theory and model portfolios tailored to client objectives.